The New York Clipper (December 1919)

12 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER December 17, 1919 AUDUBON (Last Half) Sansone and Delilah have a strong man turn that can easily hold Its own In the better houses* The feats are novel and do not fan to thrllL The man palled a "bone" in cclpsing, for he should nave gone off stage' before removing bis ap- paratus, or at least have waited untn the lights were out. Jim and Irene Marlyn were treated rough by the balcony bunch, although the act has many good spots in It, Billed as the White and Long Players, a man and woman followed and offered a satire on a husband who has been compelled to take his wife fishing with him. The act Is one of the cleverest two acts seen at this or any house ,ln a long time." The pair are artists and were a solid hit. Following the Fox news came a mind- reading act that is one of the best and most pleasing novelties offered to vaude- ville in years. Lovett's Concentration is the name of the offering. A Jazz-band of five, a woman and a man, constitute the company. The band and the woman are all blind-folded and the man 'works in the audience. The band plays through the mental request of those in the au- dience, any popular or classical compo- sition that was ever written. The woman answers questions asked by those in the audience. The act is "mystifying, for th*. man did not seem to be using code; In some cases, the leader of the band announces the title, but where a party in the audience does not know the title, by some means or other, the band plays the tune, nevertheless. Jack Rose Is one of the few acta that this theatre has held over for a full week. Rose now has a pianist with him. He put in some new songs for his second half, and some new gags, among them a satire on mind-reading, ala Billy Gib- son and Wellington Cross. He went off to a big hit and also gave his pianist a bow which the latter deserved. O'Hanlon and Zamboni Company, the latter being a teader In the orchestra, closed the show with a dance offering. The act was crude and showed signs of being a "break-In.'* However, the pair showed ability and. with time, win de- velop into a pleasing act of Its kind. G. J. H. VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS (Continued from page 11) METROPOLITAN Oast Half) The Theodoros Trio of gymnasts opened the show with an exhibition, of gymnastic strong arm feats that pleased and. during the routine, the different difficult stunts were separately applauded as they were done. The act, to all ap- pearances. Is composed of man and wife and their son. the latter furnlshfaur all the comedy relief. ^^ Ferguson and Sunderland followed with a song and dance act that went over nicely. The woman's song numbers could be eliminated to advantage. They have f.? m ?.. wlt 5r reB !***s that are passed dur- ing the act, and, over and above all, they show some good stepping. The man of- fered an eccentric character dance that 2£ OT l r J?" 1 a b J* ban *- The r <**«*» with a double novelty dance. . Dora Hilton and Company, the latter being- a male pianist, offered a high class singing act in which she mingled operatic and semi-classics with high class ballads. Miss Hilton has a pleasing, strong voice. which carries weU and yet does not grate Her repertoire Is well chosen, she knows how to wear gowns, and has a pianist who plays well Having all the elements of success, she could not help but go over. • . J*"*! 9ST*" has not changed his act one Iota in the two or more years that have elapsed since last the writer saw him. but, just the same, most of the folks out front seemed to like it, and Carr went over very smoothly indeed. In fact, he ev»n rV--lined an encore The feature act of the bill was "The ***» Hunter." which, if we remember bS=7' .J?* "P 08 caned "**• Bride Shop. The act, a musical tabloid of more than passing merit, has IS people in the cast, including the chorus, who do their utmost to amuse the, audience, and. we must say. they succeeded fairly well. The principal comedian bears the brunt of the work, on his thin, yet capa- ble, shoulders, and Is given able assist- ance by an English Johnny. The musical numbers are pretty and the girls show some nifty gowns and shapes. All In all. as musical tabs go, this one is not so bad. The feature picture was The Country Cousin", with Elaine Hammersteln as the heroine. &, w^ PROCTOR'S 23rd ST. (Last Half) Frank and Milt Brltton play the xylo- phone, cornet and trombone. The two are a jazz band of the best kind, all by themselves. J. Aldrich Libby. an old-timer, sang a number of songs in good voice, delivered some patter, most of which the audience didn't get, but got off to a big band at the close of his act, "The Unearthly Romance", a sketch with three women and as many men, haa rather an unearthly plot, and is out of the ordinary run of small time playlets. The offering is, evidently, very new. for it requires a lot of going over. The cast also can be improved, for its work lacks conviction. The meat, however which is the plot of the playlet. Is there, and, with time and the blue pencil, will give a good account of Itself. Irving and White, man and girl, pre- sented a Hebrew comedy offering that went very wen. The girl Is very pretty and handles her end of the act nicely. The other Is a good Hebrew comedian, but is inclined to overdo the Yiddish. The act, at present, will do very nicely on the three-a-day, but can stand Improvement with a few changes in gaga. Gertrude George, assisted by a pianist, who was not billed, sang a routine of published numbers. Miss George Is an attractive appearing woman, possesses considerable personality and a pleasing voice, but, best of all. delivers her num- bers well. A "blues" number, with her voice, would fit nicely into-the routine. J. C. Mac* and Company are using practically the same act In which they played over the big time last season. The offering Is now set In one and has an Interior set instead of the exterior in full stage formerly used. Mark, as an old- woman, gives a good performance .and the half-witted boy gives capable support. The act scored the biggest hit of the bill when revived. Roland Travers and Company closed the show with a magical illusion act. Some of the stunts are good, but most of them are on the lines of the old disappearing acta of the kind which have been seen for years. G. J. H. . KEENEYS Oast Half) Johnson and Parsons, two colored boys, opened the show and started things jazz- ing right away. The boys have pep aplenty, and they let it go. Their last, a Scotch bit, sent them off to a huge hit, Dell and GUss are offering an evientric musical act whlcb, although by no means a new Idea, has two novelties in it. Their last bit, in - which they lay on tables and play bells with their feet, scored heavily. The Misses Shaw and Campbell offered a singing and piano act that pleased Im- mensely. The girls make a very likeable appearance and have an act that suits their talents well. They harmonize nicely and put all of their numbers over for hits. Frank Gardner and Company have a real variety act. lnsasmuch as they mix singing, comedy talking, acrobatics, a little novelty dancing, and some quick change work. The act held Interest throughout and was accorded a really large hand at its conclusion. Gardner is the moving spirit of the turn and is as- sisted by a girl and man who do several specialties nicely. Following the news reel, which offered Its. usual lnteruption, came Morgan & Gray In a pleasing little domestic skit, in which a loving wife makes hubby rush to get to work, only to discover that it is Sunday, his day at home. Then came Bernard and Ferris, who stopped the show. That Is, the singing of the slighter of the two stopped the show. This lad possesses a soprano voice, with which he does all the prima donna tricks, and the folks seemed to like It to the extent of applauding even after the act which followed was on. The Nases, in a novelty skating act, closed the vaudeville portion of the bin and satisfied all concerned that they de- served the hit they soared. Their closing stunt is sensational. The performance was concluded by "Luck in Pawn", in which Margaret Clark was featured. S. K. HAMILTON • (Last Half) Togan and Geneva followed an over- ture which consisted of the score from "The Royal Vagabond." excellently played by William McElwaln's orchestra. They are a man and woman, offering a tight- wire routine. The stunts are good and the pair put them over well. Murray Leslie found favor with a number of songs and some patter. He is a very young chap, who delivers his songs with a lot of spirit, but shows a partiality for turning corners in such manner, while jumping around the stage, that his back is towards the audience. His gags, on the whole, are clever, hut most of them have been used by a number of acts. Leroy Lytton and Company presented a fair comedy sketch and got over fairly well. The entire company consists of two men and one woman, one of the men taking the part of an old Irish widower, the woman that of a widow and the third that of the widow's son. The cast indicates the plot of the offering; the widower is in love with the widow and she returns his affection, eventually ac- cepting his hand. The son serves for comedy. Ernie and Ernie, billed as "three feet of fun," proved to be a one legged man ' and a woman. The man did some tap dancing with the aid of a crutch and the woman did a bit of dancing herself. He gave an exhibition of high kicking that brought big applause from the au- dience. The act had no difficulty in getting off to a big hand. Myers and Hanford. with their "rube" offering, found it easy going. The two sing and dance well, but should add more to their routine, for it is very short at present. "Dangerous Dan McGrew." the "hoke" turn, closed the show. The act is a flash, but could stand a good deal of revision to good advantage. The cast is capable and handles its work wen. G. -J. H. PROCTOR'S 125tfa ST. (Last Half) Leonard and Wfllard, In opening the show, offered an act that might come under the category of comedy playlet. In spots, the comedy fairly bristles of s mall timenesa However, they seemed to please the audience and walked off to the tune of a fair sized hit. Charles E. Semon, with his comedy make-up and numerous special and hum- orous Instruments offered a well balanced musical turn in the second spot that scored. Semon makes use of the bassone, long recognized by composers as a laugh provoking instrument, to aid him In put- ting his offering over. He plays well on all his instruments and delivers his gags in a sure fire manner. Mable Burk and company, in her "Old Time and Modern Song Revue" offers an act that is novel and Interesting. Owing to the applause the "Co." received for his jazz contributions, it seems but fair that he should have his name mentioned some- where on the bin. Cocoran and Mack offered the conven- tional two' man act consisting of some crossfire, double stepping and songs. Al- though their material may not be very new and their delivery far from'pleasing, they get away with it and that Is all that is necessary on the small time. Janet Adair, with a wen chosen song cycle, a pleasing yet small voice, and her equally pleasing personality, scored quite a hand. There may be some question about her songs passing the board of censors in other cities, but, then, it's not so much the type of song but the way it's delivered, that really counts. Bert Hanlon~Is -probably the ranking nut comedian on the varietv stage. He has good material and. possesses the needed something to put it over and still leave the audience crying for more. Libby and Sparrow, in closing the show. offered a well staged and presented ballet act. Both the dancers are possessed of grace and personality. They present a well stocked wardrobe and well modulated stage setting. This act made a fitting closing number for the bill and scored considerable applause. E. H. FIFTH AVENUE (Last Half) Names with drawing power were num- erous on the program of the Fifth Avenue the last half. With Howard and Clark headlining, A. Robbins was also a fa- miliar name. Mary Marble was featured in a playlet written by Maude Fulton and a new vaudeville fantasy entitled, "Lost on the Moon," for which Blanche Merrill is responsible, was also given prominence in the lobby display. The Dancing Kennedys stepped their way through the opening spot in some whirlwind dancing that, though a trifle passe' in this year of shimmy «ha>'"g and queer qulwers, was done so well that it didn't make much difference. The act has an original opening, after which it goes into fast dancing that gives plenty of speed to the act. Brown and Spencer, a team of man and woman, songwriters, were next. How- ever, they do not fallow the vaudeville path .of other songwtiting teams. In one number the man sings a medley of song- hits. For the rest of the act the man at the piano accompanies the girl who ren- ders a repertoire of songs not of the po- pular type. She is a coUoratura soprano and sings, for the most part, light concert numbers. In other bands than Miss Brown's, It is doubtful how a vaudeville audience would receive this type of song, but her charm and personality win. "Her Home Town," a playlet starring Mary Marble, will be reviewed under New Acta. Neil McKinley belongs to the Bert Fitz- glbbon family of nuts and mazes a de- cided hit with those who like nut comedy. There were plenty of these In the Fifth Avenue audience, when McKinley was re- viewed and laughs started as soon aa he entered. The "Plant" in this act has a good singing voice, and the applause of the audience showed it liked his singing. "Lost on the Moon," a musical fantasy by Blanche Merrill, followed. See New Acts. Nick Hufford haa material that is strik- ingly original and possesses an act that should be saleable If for no other reason than that it Is different from ail others. Howard and Clark ■ al ways score big. Howard is a real showman and always sells his act to the audience. Miss Clark Is a valuable asset,' but, when reviewed, seemed to lack considerable of the snap and sweetness that originally won her favor. She should not depend on her laurels too much, but should put every ounce of her energy Into the act. A. Robbins and Partner cleaned up in next to closing spot. Here Is an act dif- ferent from the rest and guaranteed to put any. audience into good humor. The show was closed by Theodore Be- iefi and 'Company, a flashly Hnnxing act. Those who remained enjoyed It, but there were many walkouts at the beginning of the turn. H. J. G. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE (Last HalO Such an offering as that presented by the Two Ladalas. need have no fear of being withdrawn from the stage for many seasons to come. They work smoothly with their tricks, at the same time keep- ing the audience in a good humor by their well delivered comedy material. They scored considerable of a band in opening the show. The three DoUie Sisters offered their well known musical melange in the second spot and sang themselves into a fair sized hit. * Currier and Graham have concocted an offering that presents just a bit of Scotch and Irish, a combination .bound to please on the variety stage. They sing well and put their gags and cross-fire over in a telling manner. "The Strike." a comedy playlet, scored one of the biggest bits of the evening. See New Acts. Ben Bernle, as usual, stopped the show with his violin and comedy of an intimate variety. No matter how many times one has seen this versatile comedian, he al- ways pleasea Mme. Cronln and company of three scored in closing. Mme. Cronln possesses a rather large soprano voice and need have no fear of her offering falling to please. The two young and graceful dancers, the little comedian and herself will always pull It through E. H. i