The New York Clipper (February 1920)

10 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER February 4. 1920 PROCTOR'S 23RD ST. (Last Half) Wright and Wilson, In an excellent acro- batic offering-, opened the show. These boys are old timers at It and worked very easily, scoring quite a hit with their work. One of them does comedy tumbling- and the other Just straight acrobatics. Some of their stunts are breath taking. They con- clude with a stunt that U commonly re- ferred to aa a "Bert Melrose." Morati and Harris held down second posi- tion very nicely. As wo suggested several weeks ago, the woman has cut oat her sing- ing and Is doing Just talk at the present time. Morati. who has an excellent voice, doee all the vocalizing. They have added a new number to the act. using It at the fin- ish. A very appropriate costume Is worn by the woman for this number. They scared nicely, for the audience liked Moratl'a ef- forts. "Eggs Is Eggs," which the writer re- viewed some time ago, with MatWe Fer- guson and company, held down third posi- tion. If we are not mistaken, the one who plays the part of Fedora is new. The ar- tist has also taken our Up and taken the hunch ont of his shoulders with the result that he now looks like a man. The story Is that of a boarding house keeper who Is go- ing to put out the most delinquent boarder, only to And that he la her nephew. Of course, there Is a happy ending. The act la very well written and acted. Miss Fergu- son, as Mrs. O'Pennywhacker, Is excellent. The support Is also very good. Curry and Graham. In a singing and talk- ing act the latter being all done by Curry, followed. Their act consists mainly of con- trasting the songs of the Scotch and Irish. Of course. It's a tie aa to which is the best, with they themselves finally deciding that Dixie songs are the best after all. The act is very nicely put over. Both have good Singing voices and harmonise nicety. Jim and Marion Harklna, in a-comedy skit, followed. The act gets nowhere at all and was gotten together, we believe', mainly to give Jim a chance to show that he is somewhat of a nut comedian. He got over a lot of the confidential stuff to big '■"g 1 " and some original material was well liked. Marlon sang a song or two that went over and they closed with the usual love bit. Dunbar's White Hussars, nine In number, closed the vaudeville part of the show. They were the chief attraction at the theatre. This a ggr e g ation of musicians not only play musical Instruments but sing remarkably well for an organisation of Its kind. They took the house by storm and had to give two encores and take several bows before they were allowed to go. The feature picture was "Soldiers of Fortune." S. K. AUDUBON (Last half) Tjidor* and Backnun opened the bill with their rope swinging turn, which went well. Their feats on the single Tone," In which the girl displays great strength, won much applause. They went off to a big hand, considering that they opened the show. Huston Bay followed at the piano and made quite a hit. He started of with a few classic pieces, one of which was from Rlgo- letU and later played extracts from some popular hits Including "Dardenella." He was forced to take an encore and gave an Imitation of what he called "a circus steam piano without steam." Mr. Chaser and his company of nine girls filled the third spot and carried the house. His Impersonation of a "fly old guy" Is a good one and he used good Judgment In picking his girls, both as to looks and grace- fulness In dancing. A few of them were very good singers and had ample oppor- tunity to show it. After some Fox Films came the Nana and Alexis Company, whose very good display of eccentric and acrobatic dancing -was spoiled by various mishaps. First a delay occurred. Then the man fell while doing- one of the seemingly simplest steps In his act. Another bad feature was that the pair did not seem to know how to go from one number to another. Also, the stage was often empty and when one or both did ap- pear, they seemed lost- However, they pleased, and, outside of a Utter of restrained laughter during their act, they went off to a good hand. Swarts and Clifford filled the fifth spot and were a riot from start to finish. Miss Clifford Is a very good "straight" woman and brought many peals of - merriment. Swarts had some very clever gags and ex- Srosslons. which, together with his way of eUvering, kept the house in roars. He was forced to make a.curtain speech and the applause that followed warranted an en- core. But none was forthcoming. The KItaro Japs closed the show. - Some of their stunts are unique as well aa flaky and many a sigh could be heard after each Of their more difficult ones. One of their stunts, of a caliathenlc nature, was well dbne and mystified the audience. B. O'Q. FIFTH AVENUE (Last Half) McConnell and Austin opened the show with an exhibition of stunts on bicycles. The major portion of the work falls upon McConnell. who handles It nicely enough. Miss AusUn lends a hand In putting the turn over. Sandy Shaw, the Scotch comedian, was put on second. He deserved a better spot on the bill, but. Just the same, got over for a big hit and was forced to take an encore, for which he offered a dramatic recitation. He opened with a love song, followed by a sailor bit and the old woman number. As a character comedian, show- ing Scotch types. Shaw Is all alone, for very few can come up to him. Third position fell to James Grady and Company In their sketch "The Toll Bridge." It has been about four years since the writer last' saw this act and, for all the difference It made to the audience, it might have been the first time they ever sawlL McCormack and Irving Bang a little, talked a little and danced a little. Mc- Cormack handles the lion's share of the work and deserves that much credit. How- ever, Miss Irving looks well, dresses well, and lends considerable aid In putting' the act over. They made a very favorable Impression. > Ralph Dunbar's Tennessee Tea -fol- lowed. The act contains eight men and two -women, with the dancing director, U. 8. Thompson, at its head. They offered a lot of darky harmony Jan, and dancing. George Brown and Company In "Fadea- trtanlsm" followed and scored a big hit. He now uses four "plants" from the audi- ence and has the assistance of Weston and a very well built good looking lady cham- pion walker. Ryan and Healy offered a singing act that waa a riot. The boys have good voices and an excellent selection of num- bers. Their last, a comedy number In which they mourn the departure of John Barleycorn, using the choruses of popular songs, was a knockout. Chlyo and Chlyo concluded the vaude- ville performance with an exhibition of dancing and acrobatics that waa well re- ceived by trie audience, which stayed till the finish of a sensational act. S. IT. JEFFERSON (Last Half) The Linkes followed the feature film, which was "Soldiers of Fortune." with a good display of ability on the tight-wire. The couple have a routine of good stunts, some of which are original and netted them a good hand. Henderson and Holiday, two colored men using extra blacking, have a fairly good singing, talking and dance offering which can be Improved with more dancing, leas singing and some better gags. Both deliver their material well and dance with ability. Sheldon and Haslam have a very clever and original sketch which should make the better houses soon. The scene Is laid In a cabin in the woods. The team, man and -woman enter and from the conversation it is learned that the car In which they were driving is supposed to have suddenly gone out of order, and they were compelled to come to this cabin, owned by a mutual friend, to wait for the rest of their party. The man is supposed to be a woman-hater and the woman a flirt who Is engaged to this mutual friend. The man tries to cure the woman of her flirting habits and almost succeeds and later tells her that be had "named" this opportunity to get her alone. She then shown him up by proving that he is not a woman hater, and .makes him pro- pose to her. She then turns him down with scorn and tells him that the "frame-up" -was on him and that she is not engaged to their mutual friend, who-figures in a few telephone conversations. Again he turns the tables on her by saying that he will make her marry him and she later confesses that she intended to do so all along. • The Warren Sisters recently appeared with a young man who is no longer with them. The girls have arranged a neat offering, and with the comedy of one of them, gave a very good account of them- selves. TJbnrt Clifton works in.gob uniform and also in black-face, insviny. two errors In arranging his act before he even starts. He sings a "navy" number, which Arthur Havel has been using for some time, and the uniform Is entirely unnecessary. And, because he smokes a cigar in the same manner that Al Herman does on stage, 1b no reason for his using burnt cork, for his act Is anything but a black-face offer- ing. He has "some good material, which could get over without the cork or uniform. "That's My Wife," a musical tab, closed the show. a. J. H. LOEW'S METROPOLITAN (Last Half) Jack Moore's Trio opened the bill with a commendable exhibition of tight-rope walk- ing. The two girls with Moore, work well on the rope and do some graceful Jass danc- ing. Moore's double hoop trick was -well done and brought much applause. Hie trick In tossing the girl from one side of the rope to the other, was a difficult one. On the whole, the Trio serves well as openers. Danny Simmons, the Scotch monologlst, was next and captured the house from .the start. His way of delivering his Jokes, most of which were extremely clever and new, kept the audience In a roar of laughter. He also offered a few Jigs, and, despite his weight, gave a very good account of him- self. His songs, which are of a witty nature, and the stories of his experience while In the army, at the front, all of which were funny, kept the house laughing and he went off to a big hit. "Waiter's-Wanted'? filled third place and prolonged the laughter started by Simmons. It shows two Jail-birds applying for Jobs as waiters In a hick town and the question put to them called for answers that explained their past record in Jail. The girl is a very good "straight" and acted her part well, her Imitation of Theda Bara bringing a big laugh. The hit of the evening, however, was the TJ. S. S. Carols, Trio. This is a piano and singing act and the performance almost suc- ceeded in stopping the show. The singing of the trio, coupled with their witty re- marks and occasionally foolish numbers, kept the audience long after they went off. Their songs are well chosen and some snappy laughing songs are Interspersed with the sentimental numbers, which they put over In good style. Mrs. Primrose's Minstrels closed the show. The act consists of a good deal of Jigging, singing and also exhibitions on the tambourine and clappers which ware very good. Mrs. Primrose, who is the wife of the old-time minstrel man. sang a song and won jnuch applause. They fit well into the closing spot. B. O'G. KEENEY'S (Last hall) Dorothy Boy, singing comedienne, opened the' show with a number of comedy songs that went over nicely before a full house. They liked her and showed It. Morrison and Harte offered a singing and talking act that Is rather poor on the talk- ing end, although strong on the singing side. Their offering, for the most part, la made up of popular numbers and one or two selected ballads. The talk has to do with a fellow who can't hold a girl when he gets one and serves to Introduce the song num- bers, * Alice White and her Jass Band were on third. She Is a clever girl, sings in two registers, and can make you laugh. Also, she has a Jass band that can play. She of- fered a melange of song, music and comedy; that went over to the tune of two encores, and then some. Fraser and Bunce. of the act that was once Frazer. Bunce and Harding, Offered a singing and talking act that nearly stopped the show. When they opened, they sounded a little weak, but soon got Into their stride and cleaned up a surprisingly large hit. With a few newer numbers they should go much batter. "Remnants" Is a playlet that requires the services of but two people. The scene Is the office of a female buyer and the boss of a large department store. Enter the hero in the shape of a buyer who looks like a farmer, and who is. as we shall later find, Liemuel Eli Long, a buyer for a firm of silk stocking manufacturers. Eli Is Just a country lad who has determined to make good on Bis own and bring back, as bis wife, a girl from the big city. Lem is, as he him- self admits, a.pretty good talker and all her efforts notwithstanding, succeeds In selling the buyer his goods, and also wins her as his wife. The act, while a bit talky at times, is well written and acted. Bert Lewis, singing comedian, with a bunch of comedy songs, old and new, fol- lowed.- He caught the spirit of his audi- ence and gave them what they wanted, with results that must have been more than 8leasing to himself. He took one encore and ecllned a second. Lillian's" Dogs, a pretty little animal act, closed the vaudeville portion of a wen bal- anced bin. The folks out front liked the antics Of the canines and stayed, for the most part, to watch them. - . The feature picture -was "The' Prince." with Seasue Hayakawa. S. HARLEM OPERA HOUSE (Last Half) The Four Ortklns have a well arranged routine of tight-wire stunts and. In the opening position, found it easy going. Hager and Goodwin, two men, sang a number of published and special numbers, with one of them at the piano, and gave a good account of themselves. The two pos- sess good voices and deliver their numbers well. The "side-show" number'can be Im- proved upon by the insertion of better gags for what little patter Is contained In the of- fering. They were called back for an en- core and sang an old "China" number. Woolf and Stewart have a comedy sketch which Is far above the average of such of- ferings seen on the small time. Mabel Burke and Sidney Forbers, the lat- ter being billed as "and company." offered their time and modern song revue. Miss Burke continues to sing in her very pleasing voice and retains her excellent personality. Forbes also holds up the modern end of the revue In good voice and delivers -with good effect. In the absence of Sol Levoy, who was 111. Lester Hutcheon filled in for the "Carnival Night." aa Thursday evening is known at this house. He did not have Sol's "stock- in-trade" Jokes, but, nevertheless, dis- tributed the prizes In a manner that was liked by the audience. Ketchem and Cheatem, assisted by a pretty girl who comes In for a few song and dance bits, offered their comedy turn. Dixon, Bowers and Dixon, formerly kn own as "The Three Rubes" close the show.' They have re-arranged their entire act, omitting certain bits and putting In new ones. Their dance and tumbling bits were a sensation and brought them one of the big hands of the bill. G. J. T. CITY (Last Half) Scanlon. Dennis Brothers arid Scanlon, three men and a woman, followed the nuns with some singing and dancing. The Janet hits are very well done, and. In spots, re- semble the work of the Mosoonls. One of the quartette delivers a comedy number In Sood voice, but does not give the proper de- very to It for the beat laugh effects. As a whole, however, the turn is worthy of better than an opening spot. Cervo has cut out practically aU classical numbers, with the exception of his opener and has arranged a routine of published popular songs which he plays exceUenUy on the accordeon. Jimmy Rosen and Company have a com- edy skit which. In the hands of the usual person, would be useless. As Rosen Is a midget, the laughs kept coming all through the act and to give him due credit, he doee his work very well. The "company" la a pretty girl of average alxe, who, in the sketch, takes the role of Rosen's wife.. She also reads her lines well and gives capable support. Hushing and Davis followed the news reel With a black-face comedy talk offering. Opening was formerly with Lew Pistel,- and, In his new act, Davis works in black-face. The act la on entirely different lines than the Pistel and Cushlng act, and far Inferior In quality. Davis' work needs a lot of Im- provement and the act Itself is weak from start to finish, especially the finish. Cush- lng Is too good a performer to waste him- self on such material as Is contained In this offering and should get better. Van and Vernon are another team of good performers with poor material. What gags are delivered, are either old or of no use as far as laugh value Is concerned. It was the work of this couple, more than any- thing else, which got them over. At that, the encore they took was not altogether called for. Every time a girl does a single act In which she comes out In a basket, or any kind of contrivance over the audience, she must sing a "Daddy" song. Marion -West, in "Over Tour Heads," is no exception and delivers one for her second number. Her delivery needs a lot of improvement, as does her voice, also. MeLean and Gates have a somewhat un- usual offering. The pair present a very neat little playlet, and. towards the end, sud- denly step out of their roles and take the audience Into their confidence, telling them what Is supposed to be their own personal secrets. The advantages of this are very doubtful, especially with the possibilities that the playlet. In Itself, presents. Both read their lines well and with the act, writ- ten aa it should be, could easily make the better houses.' The Autumn Three, a novelty act with two men and a woman, closed the show. They did some good whistling and vocal imitations of birds and animals. G. J. H. BIG MAGIC ACT. IS ROUTED Horace Goldin and a company of nine people in a magical illusion act have been routed over the Moss Circuit bv Jack lan- der for eight weeks.