Variety (September 1918)

10 BURLESQUE FOLLIES OF THE DAY. Barney Gerard baa produced an entirely new "Follies of the Da?" for IMS, retaining the Btyle of last year's show, which was a de- parture from recognized burlesque offerings and along modern lines. "Folly's Going Up" is the title of the cur- rent piece, and as Its name suggests, It la a burleaque on a group of last year's Broadway successes. Last season Mr. Gerard chose tor his travesties a number of plays that bad been hits a number of eeaaons before, but "Polly a Going Up" brings bis burlesques more up to the minute. As In 1017, much Is dependent upon the comics for laughs rather than the travesties themselves. Harry Welsh, one of the slipperiest-footed men in burlesque baa succeeded George P. Murphy, and Is teamed with the elongated Chester Nelson, retained from lest season, as Is Gertrude Hayes, they being the three featured members. Three shows are travestied, "Polly with a Past," "Oolng Up" and "Chu Chin Chow.' As for the first named, Mlas Hayes is given the name of "Polly Ina Bayes," who la "sired by Belasco and blred by Cohan," but there la no attempt to burlesque the play Itself. Referring to "Oolng Up," several features of that suc- oeaa (still current In New York) are selected, and truest to the piece Itself Is the resdlng of telegrams while the supposed aerial race la on. However. Coban & Harris need not fear that any of their fun has been lifted. "Chu Cbin Chow" serves as an oriental scene, with a character In It called "Chew Cbow Chow.' This person. Miss Hayes, In the role of "Buratt," explains there are forty thieves with him and be la really known as "Hltchy Koo." The various scenes provided the avenue for fun by Nelson and Welsh. Nelson shades bis partner, carrying his rube characterization— which la a plppen—throughout. To him It seemed was given most of the meat In the way of lines, or else be worked In much of his own material. In a bit In "one" with Welah, when both were supposed to race in airplanes, he ventured "no airships for mine; they are like poison; one drop And It's all over." His scheme of spelling potatoes with eight O's la a "darb." Nelson's extremely funny makeup led Welsh to say that he was "a maiden's last prayer." Tbe line Itself la ▼err old, but so well worked up that the bouse had a big laugb. Welsb does Hebrew and gets much out of his peculiar way of sliding about the stage. The men make a corking comedy team and work unusually welt together. , . Tbe show Isn't strong In musical numbers nor voices. This fact Mr. Gerard certainly recognized, for In the second set about half way through there was Introduced a songstress In tbe person of Elsa May, wbo made no other appearance. She did well enough with an operatic number and "Smiles," the latter scor- ing. The vocal section was concentrated at this point for a male quartet, consisting of Welsh, Nelson, Sam Green, Tom Duffy, and Al Smith pushed over a hit Harmony was not trusted to, tbe comedy of the numbers doing the trick. However, Smith's yodellng counted for much, that being about the main straight song effort of tbe quintet. In addition, Smith handled a number of bits well. Nelson bandied a Bteel guitar Just before the show was over. He played at 11 o'clock Tuesday night, and had that specialty In whicb he was assisted by Duffy been on earlier. It might have gone over much stronger. Tbe latter portion of the show can stand speeding at that Two or more comedy bits could be separated, and one placed earlier, for tbe action was delayed. Another tblng that can stand shortening la the song efforts of Andy Harer. who sang no less than five old time melodies from the pit, that being bis contribution to the vocal sec- tion. Andy has a tenor voice, and not bad coming from a leader, but had he stopped after his third song he would have quit a biggor winner. Tbe production la of high grade, four full- stage Bets and two scenes in "one." Per- haps the most effective Interior Is "Peacock Alley," used for the finish. The lighting Is well carried out In a bright way. Costumes have not been overlooked and the choristers generally present a pleasing appearance. There Is no regular chorus number, sltbougb some of the girls have dance bits In one of Miss Hayes' songs, and several others have spe- cialties here and there. Among the latter are Mildred Laurie, Gertrude Baffin and Pauline Harer. The cast Includes Maybelle Courtney, she having little to do, and Del and Viola Duvall: the latter have several numbers and a specialty dunce. "Polly's Going Up" Is primarily a comedy show, and, as such, Is bound to draw thorn in. Tbe Columbia, Tuesday nfeht. was nearly a sell-out, which spenka well In lleht of tbo young sessonls early reports. Also, It's a lively Bbow. Everybody seems to do a wee bit of the "shimmy," and burlesque audtencoB ' will never get eore at that Tbce. PARISIAN FLIRTS. Bo that the audience might understand why Charlie Robinson's "Parisian Flirts" carries a number of men presumably In the new draft age Robinson bad the following lines on his program when tbe show was at the Olympic last week: "Every male member of Parisian Flirt Co. has Oiled all obligations in respect to military service." Robinson's contribution to tbe American board this season Is a two-part affair, tbe first entitled "The Wild Lovers," and tbe second "The Island of Bull." Robinson appears dur- ing tbe periods In a monolog as a big, burly, overdressed tramp, and In thn last session working as the King of Booze Islnnd. Al. Itaytno Is still there, and on his shoulders Is placed much of the comedy byplay of the opening, with Raymo working as a "wop" throughout, his second half makeup being of the banditry type, which seemingly was more relished In the fun-making sense than his "bits" at the opening aa the hand-organ man with a man-sized monkey Imitated by Marlon Benson. In past seasons there bas always been an elements of the "raw" and the "blue" In a "Parisian Flirt" performance, and this year Is no exception. There are several that fairly sizzled In point of suggcstlveness, especially In the bathing beach bouse conversation. While Roblnaon has made efforts to Improve his show In more ways than one, tbe entire production could stand rearrangement In some of the departments that would greately strengthen it There Isn't a male voice and not a male who can dance or do anything beyond talk. Robinson did pretty well with his parodies in his monolog. Tbe chorus doesn't seem overworked, with a sort of Texas Tommy skip and pat that stood the girls In good stead throughout. The Olympic audience didn't applaud any of the ensemble numbers to any extent A double singing number by May Bernhardt and Jerry Flemmtng got the most Hal Droves aa a "tad" and then a wild and woolly bad man. did what be could with thank- less lines. Fred Slgel and Billy Clark bad little to do In so tar as comedy was con- cerned. Clark handling the "straight" without attempting anything that looked like a spe- cialty. That Jocko Impersonation was a chance for a monkey "bit" that was left untouched, perhaps due to Benson's unfamlllarlty with the characteristics of tbe street monk. The women are headed by Miss Bernhardt, with tbe show for several seasons, with her male characterizations given tbe usual atten- tion. Miss Bernhardt has personality and dominates the feminine end completely, with two others of tbe female principals having numbers that enabled them to show some new outfltB. These were Jerry Flemmlng, a pert, plump, vivacious soubrette, and Freda Lehr, a shapely principal, both with tbe Robinson forces last season. Among the newcomers Is Ha Hie Randolph, and she put forth every effort to make ber work stand out her voice holding Its own with It being stamped perhaps' the "voice" of tbe feminine row. Sixteen girls, with tbe broiler type predom- inating, loomed up most 'advantageously In tbe bathing suit number, with the varl-colored outfits at the last also making a nice "flash." The finale of the first part swung Into war- time tempo. Robinson's monolog showed up the lack of comedy In the first part, and there was a striking difference wBen be also got Into the principal dialog In tbe closing period. It's not a bad show, but it could be bright- ened, tbe girls given more work to do, tbe pink tight color scheme more varied, the men In- structed to take up tbe cues faster and soft pedal placed on several of the suggestive lines that are dirty In every phase of construction and Intent Scenlcally 'Tarlatan Flirts" measures up well and there Ib no pointed complaint against tbe costuming once tbe pink-legged Idea Isn't overdone. Mark. Y0UNGST0WN INJUNCTION. Youngstown, 0., Sept. 18. The Park Theatre, through its own- ers, Feiber & Shea, has secured a U. S. Circuit Court restraining order pre- venting the local authorities from in- terfering with the burlesque attrac- tions at that theatre. The mayor, elected on a reform ticket, last season objected to the American Wheel shows, stating at that time he thought Youngstown should have the Columbia Wheel attractions. Accordingly* Feiber & Shea arranged for the Columbia shows to appear at the Park this season, which they have done. Some days ago the mayor came out against the Park and its policy. Feiber & Shea, nettled and irritated, secured the injunction, which will be argued in Cleveland. It is not locally anticipated the mayor will press the proceedings. He is the only one in town as far as known who sees any reason why the Colum- bia shows should not play here. NEW BOOKING ARRANGEMENT. The American Burlesque Association has confirmed a booking arrangement whereby there is a readjustment of the time following the Monday and Tues- day engagement in Wheeling, W. Va. As now laid out the shows, play the opera house, Newcastle, Pa.; Wednes- day ; Lyceum, Beaver Falls, Pa., Thurs- day, and the Opera House, Canton, O., Friday and Saturday. The Casino, Chester, not ready at the opening of the new burlesque sea- son, is now playing its regularly sched- uled shows. DUNBARS QUIT SHOW. Turner and Dolly Dunbar are sever- ing connections with the "Million Dol- lar Dolls," with Charles Mac and a new soubrette replacing them. THE KAISER IN HELL By BERT MERKET The Devil one day called his imps, so they say, And proceeded to tell with elation, That his very Dear Friend from Berlin did intend To come for a little vacation. '» And he wanted each one to prepare for the Hon By devising some hellish reception, Such a i jabbing great holes into poor souls, % Or the practice of fiendish deception. When the Friend from Berlin was at last ushered in To the seat of Satanic Dominion, * There were waila and moans, unearthly tones, And the Devil expressed the opinion, That of all the "damned" plays he had staved in his dayt, This one was the cream of perfection, And he turned with delight to his Friend on his right; But the Friend bore an air of dejection. He said, "Listen, Sate, you can brag, you can prate Of being a 'hell of a fellow,' . You're a Master, I know, but you've ruined your show By exposing a broad atreak of 'yellow.' It's a pity, old dear, that I wasn't here To giye you some points on production, Such as cutting the tongue out of innocent young, Of rape and of hellish abduction." Then he went on to tell of his own little hell, •'* And of tortures that he had propounded; He laughed at the plight of the Belgians in flight, Till the Devil war truly astounded. He'd strut and he'd stalk, he would bellow and talk, With a. mien that was. far from retiring, Then blowing his nose and striking a pose, He uttered these words most inspiring— "I have given command to cut off the band Of every man's son that is captured, „ And to bayonet a child and then watch them piled In heaps, makes me truly enraptured. I grow wild with with delight at the gruesome sight Of bodies that are mutilated, It's one of my whims to cut off the limbs Of babies newly created. The Devil arose from his seat of repose, And he thanked the old butcher for calling; But the language he uaed and tbe way he abused His very dear Friend was appalling. He bent to the ground with a gesture profound— The imps started madly to scurry— He yelled, "You disgrace a respectable place, Get the hell out of here, in a hurry." WARBURTON, YONKERS, CLOSED. When the "ghost" fell down at the Warburton, Yonkers, N. Y., where bur- lesque stock was operating, the com- pany headed by Leo Stevens, comedian, balked at opening the Saturday night performance unless salaries were forth- coming. Stevens was paid $25 cash, with the promise of the balance after the first act. The curtain was held 25 minutes and when the players were ready to re- sume, the musicians had walked out. Efforts to locate the manager around the house failed. The audience becom- ing tired of the wait, went outside and demanded back its admission money. The girl in the ticket booth became excited and fainted. MARRIAGES. Beulah Booker (Paralta Pictures) to Kenneth O'Hara, Aviation Corps, in Los Angeles, last week. Carol Brown (Brownie Carroll) to Harry Winslow Conaut (non-profes- sional) at Rochester, N. Y, July 10. Helen Keane, chief telephone oper- ator at the Hippodrome to Edgar Kelly, Municipal Building, New York, Sept. Hazel Brennan, said to be a daughter of James Brennan, formerly of the Fuller-Brennan Vaudeville Circuit of Australia, and who appeared recently in musical comedy at the Alcazar, San Francisco, was married last week on the Coast to Frank Gondor, a New York business man. BIRTHS. HARRY DIXON'S BOAST. Henry Dixon, he of the gentle voice, was bragging along Broadway this week that when his revue lately played Boston, not a line was eliminated by the censors. That surprised even Hank himself. Mickey Levan, who was barred from Boston burlesque! last season, appeared with the show. BURLESQUE CHANGES. Danny Murphy, Mittie DeVere and Bessie Rosa joined the "Innocent Maids" this week. , Marty Collins with the "Jolly Girls," replacing Ben Dobson. Charles Van Austen has left "Cheer Up America," with Leo Hayes assum- Mr. and Mrs. Bert Fitzgibbon, at their home in New York, Sept. 7, son. Mr. and Mrs. Cavanaugh (Ruth Tompkins) at their home in Cleveland, Sept. 14, daughter. Mr. and Mrs. George Mack, at their home in Cleveland, Sept 3, daughter. The mother is professionally known as Mildred Dean. Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. McNorton (Cecil and Mac) at their home in San Diego, Cal., Aug. 24, son. Cecil and Mac were in vaudeville. Joseph Mc- Norton, a brother, formerly in the act, is now with the 301st Regiment in France. Production ENGAGEMENTS. Ernest Marini and Dorothy Smoller, dancers, added to "Head Over Heels" at the Cohan, Sept. 13.