The New York Clipper (September 1919)

14 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER September 17, 1919 ZELLA NEVADA Theatre— Fifth Avenue. ■ Style— Singing and piano. Time— Fourteen minutes. Setting— Special. Zella Nevada, who made her New York debut at the Fifth Avenue, as- sisted by Gate Wellner at the piano, is a clever comedienne with a soprano voice that pleases, a strong personality and an act that is folly np to the standards of the two-a-day houses. Her gowns are gorgeous and her songs ex- cellent. Wellner, who assists at the piano, accompanies her in a manner that is fitting and proper and helps round ont what is in every respect an entertain- ing act. At the Thursday matinee perform- ance. Miss Nevada wag given a difficult position on the program, going on after several other acts that occupied a con- siderable length of time. In spite of the handicap, she was warmly applauded and took an encore. In an earlier spot she would, beyond a doubt, have scored even a bigger hit. ■Miss Nevada is a singer who can render ballads and comedy numbers equally well, and she puts quite a punch into her work. She has a smile that wins favor and gives the impression that she really enjoys her work. She should be successful in the New York variety houses of the better class. The routine started with a ballad, after which came a darkey number. There was then another song that was liked, and a "wild man" song at the finish provided the big punch. She re- peated the chorus of the song for an encore. Wellner rendered a piano solo between the third and fourth numbers to enable the principal to take an encore, and his medley of popular tunes met with approval. I- S. HART AND LOWERY Theatre— Fox's Star. Style— Singing. Time—Fourteen minutes. Setting— In one. Harry Hart formerly appeared in a Morosco production, and Ed. Lowery recently played with Liiana Carrera. In number two spot, the duo took the biggest hand of the show, and the boys will eventually make a good num- ber two act on a big time bill. Both appeared dressed in gray from head to foot, making a very neat ap- pearance. They opened with a special number and then rendered a published , number. Hart followed this .with a ballad and sang it well. Lowery ac- companied him on the piano, and then they offered a comedy song number. A "Frenchie" number by Lowery and a jazz number by the two with a dance at the end, completed the offering. The boys have personality, and, after another week or so on the small time to smooth out the rough spots, win please any audience. G. J. H. NEW ACTS AND REAPPEARANCES ' rConUnued (ram pagss II and 12) BEE PALMER Theatre— Mt. Vernon. Style— Dancing, tinging, jazz band. Time— Eighteen minute*. Setting— FuU ttage (special). Harry Weber is presenting the golden- haired, shoulder-shaking Bee Palmer, of the "Follies," in vaudeville. With her is the jazz band formerly used by Sophie Tucker at Beisenweber's, among its members being Dick Himber, the kid violinist, who sings a few songs with Miss Palmer. It has been said of late, and it looked it, that the jazz and shimmey craze is fast dying ont- It may be, but when this little exponent of the shivery dance hits town, the craze is due for a grand revival. The setting of the act is attractive, with lavender for the background. The band opens with jazz and Himber tells the boys about Bee, her shimmeying ability and her life. Following that, Miss Palmer enters with a shimmey and a number expressing her desire to go through all those motions rather than do any other dance. A song by Miss Palmer and Dick Himber is given for the next number. The band then "blue the blues," which will snrely convince any one that the jazz craze is booked • solid for a long time to come. Miss Palmer then renders a medley of "Cry" songs, accompanying herself at the piano, and the band plays off stage. Her delivery of this is excellent. A jazz number and dance in which all the six members of the band wear brown derbies, which we don't hold against them, completes the offering. Bee Palmer and her jazz band will find a big welcome in vaudeville. G. J. H. TWO YAQUIS Theatre—Proctor's 125« St. Style— Indian linger*. Time— Twelve minute*. Setting— In three (*peetal.) The two Yaquis are a man and woman using a set depicting the home of the Yaqui tribe of Indians. Accord- ing to history, this tribe is descended from the Aztecs, of Mexico, and live in the southern part of Arizona and New Mexico. Opening with a pose and "The End of A Perfect Day," the pair followed with a number of songs which they sang well, as their voices please. The rou- tine also includes a recitation by the male member of the duo, telling of the Indians and the white man, and greet- ing the latter. The act should find work on the small time. G. J. H. HUNTING AND FRANCIS Theatre— Mt. Vernon. Style— Talking and singing. Time— Sixteen minute*. Setting— In one {special). Hunting and Francis, back home after entertaining the boys overseas, are doing their old florist shop act again. The turn has played the big time, when the two were here a year or so ago, but the standard of vaudeville acts has changed since, and, to be frank, we fear that the offering will only be able to bold down an early position on a big time bill, or feature as a headliner on the small time. The pair are un- doubtedly clever and handle their ma- terial well, but to play the big time circuit in a good spot will certainly need newer material. Miss Francis is featuring a "Rose" ballad from "The Better 'Ole." and sings it - well. Hunting does a clog dance very nicely and could add another dance to the routine. At this house, when reviewed, they received a very large amount of applanse and took a number of bows. G. J. H. KARL KARNEY Theatre— Proctor'* 125th St. Style— Piano and singing. Time—Fourteen minute*. Setting— In one. Karl Karney has a pleasing act, but will have to speed up his opening, which is poor. In this he renders a song about his act He then seats himself at the piano and, in song, announces that he will sing the old songs in synco- pated' manner. He started with "After the Ball" and then rendered an up-to- date version of the song that won him immediate favor. A song then followed in which he told' of the origination of the shimmy. A published ballad came next. He then played bits from Rachmaninoff's Symphony and rendered a jazz version of the song. He closed with a song. Karney is a neat-appearing young man. When ■ we reviewed the act, he was on as a tryout But, after a few of the rough spots are polished, he should find the better class houses easy going. G. J. H. THOS. L. GARRETT Theatre— Proctor"* 125tfc St. Style— Hypnotist. Time— Sixteen minutes. Setting—/* tiro. Garrett may or may not be an ex- cellent hypnotist but it must be .said that, if the seven young men who came up on the stage from the audience to assist him are "plants," they are better performers than he. But. if they really were patrons of the theatre, then Gar- rett is a good hypnotist. After getting these seven huskies to assist him. he put them through the old routine of a burning chair, the dentist bit, and other bits which hypnotists use. The act won't do for more than the small time. G. J. H. BROOKS AND GEORGE Theatre— Proctor's 125th Street. Style— Mutical and dancing. Time—Fourteen minues. Setting— In one. Shelton Brooks, writer of "Darktown Strutters' Ball," teamed up with a new partner named George, is offering a two- act whjch should reach the two-a-day houses with ease. Brooks is a person- able fellow whose manner is one that wins favor, and George plays the clar- inet well. The boys know how to inject a punch ' into their work. There are a few songs done by Brooks alone at the piano, and some dancing together. The offering in- cludes jazz music and a few good laughs, all combined so as to make a first Tate act. - They opened with a few bits of patter, after which Brooks, perched upon the piano stool, started to tickle the ivories, while George played the clarinet. There was a jazzy bit by the clarinet player alone, after which Brooks sang two songs. George reappeared after that in a queer costume which got him a laugh, and the two played a medley of songs which Brooks had written. A dance followed and elicited a hearty round of applause. They took an encore in the form of another song and dance. I. S. PHILIPS AND EBY Theatre— Harlem Opera House. Style— Playlet. Time— Sixteen minute*. Setting— Parlor. This playlet, with a cast of only two, deals with a cute, little divorcee who yearns, for a return to the days of mar- ried life and shows the working out of a plan whereby she succeeds in her yearning and gets her.husband to return to her." The plot jumps away from the usual ro£' inasmuch as the audience cannot guess the ending until the playlet has almost reached its end. But the lines are stilted at times and are, therefore, hard to make real. The little girl, though, has a unique and fascinating method of delivery and charms the audi- ence from the very start with her infec- tious little laugh. Her husband, of an Ernest Truex type, is every bit as cap- able as she, and his pantomime work deserves more than passing commenda- tion. It is the personality of the pair, above all, that carries the playlet over. H. J. G. HAZEL HARRINGTON & CO. Theatre— Proctor's 23rd St. Style— Ooncdy Playlet. « <-• Time— Sixteen. Minute*. Setting—F«H ttage. "The Squab" is the title of this com- edy playlet, presented by a cast of three, two women and a man. Just why it was given that title is not easy to explain after seeing the act. It certainly does not suggest the story on which the of- fering is built. The poor selection of a title, however, is only one fault of the sketch. The plot is one which has been used time and time and again, and the manner in which the act has been written has not made it any more interesting. Any one could have guessed what was going to happen. As far as the cast is concerned, there is little to boast about. Not one of the three characters performed well. The element of suspense is almost entirely lackjng, and the turn, generally, lacks a punch. A stay on the small time seems in store for it. .The scene of action is laid in the home of an ambitions chorus girl. A member of the show is worried about something. Enter a second and more experienced chorus - girl. She soothes the first by expounding the- usual philosophy attrib- uted to chorus girls. She explains that from a member of the chorus to stardom ■ is a big step, etc., etc. First girl then explains that a youthful "stage door John" had deserted her after marrying her. Experienced girl advises her to get as much money ont of his parents as possible. First girl does not want money. Very strange. Vanished stage door John .husband suddenly phones that his father is wait- ing without girl's home. Father enters, after first girl has left room. He meets second chorus girl and thinks that she is hia son's wife. Father recognizes her as a' former "friend." He attempts to put his manly arms around.her slender waist but is sharply repulsed. First girl then enters and refuses money to release his son until son him- self declares that he desires release. Father, it develops, has married a wealthy woman with a high social posi- tion, and does not want to be degraded by having it known that his son is the husband of a mere chorus girl. Exper- ienced girl gives him the merry laugh and, further, locks him in the room and demands a big check for love letters of his. He unwillingly signs check for $10,000. Young man phones that he is a mem- ber of the Engineers Corps of the Army. Second girl notifies father that son is a real man. Father before making exit is notified that letters for which he paid $10,000 have been burned. He is indig- nant but leaves. All is well. I. S. BROWN-GARDNER-BARNETT Theatre— Victoria. Style— Song and Dance. Time— Ttoentv-five minute*. Setting— Full-tpecial. This act is composed of a dancing team and a pianist. The act opened with an introductory song by the male member of the team, followed by a semi-oriental dance in which he also participates. The accom- panist then sang a comedy number in which he showed how his preference for hard boiled eggs had got him into trouble. This was followed by another terpsichorean exhibition which is not only a standard dance, but has also been performed a good deal better. A burlesque by the pianist on an ora- torio followed, after which they did an Apache number which they have invested with several new steps. They dance well and -their numbers are well ar- ranged. The pianist is a fairly clever comedian. S. K.