The New York Clipper (November 1919)

November 5, 1919 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER PALACE Wilkie Bard, retained for the third weak, did fairly well and received a few laughs In the "Chrysanthemum" number, due to the fact that lie has coined some American slang, together with the sure-fire laughs that accom- pany the character. The lady assist- ant "feeds" well, but the other member overacted his part. The scrub woman satire was retained from ithe repertoire presented last week. The talk between Bard and the "Dresser" was funny enough, hut all chances for a sensa- tional hit were spoiled hy Bard, who slapped a dirty wet rag around the girl's face and she, in turn, repeated the act. Comedy is always welcome, bat this style will never stamp Bard as a legitimate comedian. 'Later, he slammed the wet rag down on the stage so hard that the occuyaucs of the first two rows were spattered with soap and waiter. William Book and Girls headlined and presented an act that was well rec- eived. Asaht and Company, consisting of four Japanese, opened the show while many were being seated. They went through their tricks and received u good' hand, especially in the "Hitman Fountain" bit. The Thumb trick is a corker, hot Is not properly delivered. Du For Brothers stopped the show in number two position, due to the won- derful dancing of the boys, who have pleasing personalities and do their stepping well. The solo and double numbers were the signal for thunder- ous applause, all of which they de- served. Imhoff, Conn and Coreene, will long be remembered hy patrons at the .Mon- day afternoon performance, ror they laughed loud and long at this skit. Im- hoff, as the peddler .whose horse died In front of a hotel known as "The Pest House," does a fine piece of acting while trying to sleep in a room for which be paid one dollar, bat where he is constantly being interrupted by the firman of the place, who Insists on playing checkers. Miss Coreene played a dual role and helped considerably, while a new man Is doing Conn's char- acter. The act is a comedy gem and, with Roger Imhoff in the leading part, it is a howl. It stopped the show and Imhoff offered his thanks in a brief but pointed speech. Mehlinger and Meyer were also pres- ent and repeated their hit of a few weeks ago. Mehlinger would have sung twenty songs If the audience had had its way. But his voice seemed husky and he bowed off. Meyer Is more than an assistant and played his well known compositions, while Mehlinger chirped the lyrics. Wilkie Bard's entrance was mildly received, and another week would spell failure, as the audience seemed to know his every move. Miss Juliet appeared after the "Lit- erary Digest" and kept up the speed of the fast moving show with a series of iaiitations and impressions of well known stars. At least fifteen favorites were imitated and each one was imme- diately recognized for all were almost faultless. The Lauder and Eltinge numbers were great. ■William Rock and Girls appeared for the first time in a new act that is well Put on and contains a world of pretty girls and costly wardrobe. -Bock works hard and is mostly responsible for the act which will be reviewed in the Xew Act department- Clark and Verdi did welt in their dif- ficult position considering the lateness of the hour. Borkln's Company of Russian Danc- ers andSlhgers held nrany In, whfie the act was on view. The fast dancing is a big feature. J. D. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Continued on pigs 10) RIVERSIDE Maxlne 'Brothers and Bobby opened the show. The act is for the most part an exhibition of canine intelligence. Bobby is one of the cleverest four foot- ed performers there is and his work pleased old and young alike. Countess Verona lives up to her bill- ing as "The Musical Genius of the Cym- balon," and succeeded in scoring a big bit, Which was Justly hers. She opens with the rendition of a classical num- ber and follows with a special march. She then covers her instrument with a silk spread and proceeds to play a med- ley of popular tunes without once look- ing at the instrument. She was forced to take an encore, for which she repeat- ed this performance. She plays her In- strument with the technique of a real musician. The United States Glee Club, thirty ex-gobs, headed by Jerry Swinford, who is featured, came next. This aggrega- tion is a novelty inasmuch as it is really a singing club. They have a repertoire of popular and special numbers. Includ- ing several camp songs that they render well. There is a whistler in the act who deserves a little mention for an excellent solo. They scored heavily and had to take an encore. Kellesn and O'Dare came next. Kel- lem Is an excellent nut comedian, en- dowed by nature with the gift for non- sensical tomfoolery, which he uses to good advantage. Miss OTJare Is a comely lassie who provides a good foil for his humor and knows how to pat song numbers across. They were rec- eived with favor and were given their just measure of applause. Emma Cams was next. Her act moves much more smoothly than when seen last (time by the writer. She also has a few new wheezes about married life that are appreciated hy the folks In the audience who are tied up. J. Walter Leopold assisted her capably at the piano and in song. Her personality and her delivery of her special numbers put her over for a big sized hit. Following Intermission and The Top- ics of the Day came Walter Brower, the "Jolly Jester." He is a born monologifit who possesses a really wonderful per- sonality that carries htm a long way. Also, he has a knack of making people like what he tells them by the way he tells it. His rambling talk on prohibi- tion, women, marriage and other topics that absorb the attention of humans, tickled the audience's fancy and he scored a large hit. His little dramatic recitation was also received with favor. His little spell about water took the folks hy surprise, and, after he was through, he had a hard time bowing off. ■Xonette Is using the same scenery and one of .the same numbers she used' when last seen by the writer two years ago. She opens with a popular blues song and followed with a mixed repertoire of popular and special numbers, concluding with her well known "Bomany" song. She offered a medley of popular tunes for an encore, but the audience was not satisfied, and she had to repeat. She played "Pal of Mine" with telling effect and could have had a third encore had she wished it. Herbert Clifton, in his travesty on the weaker sex, closed the show and, let It be known, kept them in till he had finished his last how. He Is a clever irarlesquef and-his work was duly ap- preciated and applauded. The news reel concluded. S. ■IT- COLONIAL Kartell! opened to a poor sized aud- ience In comparison with the average crowd which collects here on Monday afternoons. The falling off in business was especially noticeable In the gallery, which Is generally packed. However. Kartelll found no difficulty In getting a big hand from the small crowd with his stunts on the slack-wire. He put over some novel feats In his routine and did them well. Mabel Burke and Sidney Forbes pres- ented their "Old Time and Modern Song Revue." The offering Is a pleasing nov- elty and, as handled by Miss Burke, who possesses a good voice, and Forbes, who has a pleasing personality and voice, is sure-fle. Although the audience didn't sing, it applauded heartily. James B. Carson and Company have two assets to their playlet. One Is the name of Hugh Herbert as one of its authors, and SJed Dancy Is the other. The comedy and theme of the offering is good, but Carson would do well to cut down on the Yiddish expressions, for the audience ait the Colon iai is not that of the Hoyal or Alhambra. The Old couple who are in his company do their work well, and, as a whole, the offering Is very pleasing. The Swor Brothers, in their black- face comedy offering, raised a riot of laughs. Their pantomime is dandy and the gags very clever. The audience here couldn't get enough of them. "Music-Land," a tabloid with a chorus of pretty girls, and featuring Anatol Friedland, Lillian Berse, Phoebe White- side and Neal Mack, closed the first half and went over for a big bit. The offer- ing does not lay claim to possessing a plot, and it doesn't But, the settings and wardrobe are very good, the music tuneful, the cast capable which is about all -required of a good tab nowadays. It will be fully reviewed under 'Xew Acts. Moran and Wiser took the laugh hon- ors of the bill with their hat-throwing comedy turn. The pair possess remark- able ability in the art of throwing and Juggling hats and the comedian knows the value oi showmanship.' His kidding with the audience, which took op most of the act, not only pleased but raised a riot of laughs. Bailey and Cowan, with Estelle Darts, was the one-act on the bill to stop the show and did it in a manner which left no doubt that the hill was stopped cold. Bailey Jazzed the banjo in a manner that rivaled an entire band. Cowan sang and delivered his numbers with telling effects, In addi- tion to playing the piano and saxophone well. Miss Davis is an attractive, auburn-haired woman, who gave a good account of herself with the saxophone. The trio work together excellently and have a very good routine of numbers. Bothwell Browne's Bevue, featuring Browne and the Browne Sisters, closed the show. The opening part of the turn consisted of poses by the "Bath- ing Girls," who certainly live np to their reputation for pretty faces and figures. The Browne Sisters were handicapped before doing their accord- eon specialty hy a sudden walk-out of a great -many all over, the house, who thought the act was over after the pos- ing was finished. However, the girls. who are very winsome, played pleas- ingly, although they could use later numbers, and went well. Browne clos- ed the show with his oriental sword dance. The setting and costumes of the act are -very- bean tifui, but there are still a few rough spots that win have to be smoothed over. G. J. H. ROYAL Gere and Delaney opened to an aud- ience the size of which has rarely seen at this house. The lobby crowded to capacity and even at SJS there was a line leading from the box office around the corner for a half- block or more. For this, Pat Tlnonaj Is really responsible, for he Is one oC the best drawing cards the Bronx has. Frank Gaby found an appreciative audience with his ventruoonlal offarv lng. Working with what he called bis impression of an Englishman, he did some difficult work In his line of offer- ings. Working with what he called bis impression of an Englienmau, ue <m some difficult work In his line of offer- ings. He could use some new gags ha his offering, but his work was good enough' to get him over at that. William Sully and Genevieve Hough- ton, an attractive young couple, have a pleasing offering which Is programmed. as being written by Aaron Hoffman, The patter Is handled well and the singing and dancing bits excellently done. Miss Houghton, who Is a pretty little girl, possesses a voice of exeat* lent range, which she showes to good advantage in a "Bluebird" solo. Sully, who is one of the well-known family of that name, shines best In his dancinf. and the girl Is not far behind him la. that style of work. Dale and Burch, also man and wo- man, followed with a potter offerlnc- The act was billed for the second half, hot changed places with Duffy matt Sweeney. The. scene takes place in a riding school, where the woman c orn ea as a pupil, and the man, who la an "old devil," is the teacher. The patter has some clever gags, which palled a lot of laughs from the crowd. The woman Is an attractive blonde and taa other member of the duo takes off th» man's part'excellently. Pat Booney and Marion Bent. with, their new review, were given an ova- tion. Their new offering is one Thar' will make many other vaudeville acta look sick. It was written by Edgar Allan Woolf. with music by Cliff Hsaa and Joseph Sanrtley. The company la their support is excellent and special mention must be made of Mile. Mar- gueritev who Is one of the best danceca to be seen In vaudeville to-day. Tte offering wfll be fully reviewed under Haw Acts. Rose and Moon, with Jules Bnffano- at the piano, opened the second half. Although they followed an act which contained much dancing, this pair weak off to one of the biggest hands of tfc* bill. In fact, captured the second ap- plause honors, following Pat Rooaey. Had they been placed in another posi- tion, preceding the Rooney act. they would have undoubtedly stopped the show. They offered a routine of tap dances worked out in an original man- ner that makes them stand out from- the average clog and tap dance act. Jules Buffano. who handled the piano end of the offering, is new to New York, but Is undoubtedly a comer as a pian- ist. The boy plays well and gave a very good account of himself in two solos. Jlmmey Duffy and Mr. Sweeney, an they were billed, offered "hokum" and, found themselves at home wrth the* audience. The boys were also billed « as Russian Entertainers, and. Judging from a Bolshevik standpoint, they hava enough violence in the act to mate them live up to their billing. Winston's Water lions and Divine Xymphe closed the show. Not one in. 'the audience was seen to walk out dur- ing the aot. which Is really aomethbac -very much out of the ordinary In any vaudeville theatre to-day. The animate are excellently trained and the two girls gave a very good exhibition ot swimming and diving. G. J. H.