Variety (November 1918)

SHOW RE VIE W 21 PAIACL §. i\--- fe- K:- ■:. \ ,-„^*;^,.,^,.....,,,,,»ll«,,Tfl^|f.,.WpjiiJWr.,,p^ Dwt Bio: Buppoeo by Utta time you are asleep, or Bbould b«. Ttaoutbt I mlgbt as well tell you about tbe ahow I saw at the Palace toolgbt. It will be tbere oil week, and It's Just tbe kind you Itlce, but you won't see It. Did you do -Wbat Mother told yon about sleeping with your mouth closed, and bow did you like it? Mother has been sore ever since she tried It. But I must tell you about tbe show, Lillian Russell is the headllner and Frisco Is there, also Iftirry Watson. Frisco Is the Jesting jazzer from Chi. The guy with the leet. And Watson Is the fellow who was in "Odda and Ends" and says: "Hey, tell 'em wbat I done to Pbiladelpbla Jack O'Brien." ^ then there waa Al Bboyne, "The Singing Beauty," and it be keeps it up, in a few days he'll look like Blutcb Cooper, but you don't care about that. Remember' one night on tbe Amsterdam Root when you said you thought OIlie Thomas was tbe prettiest girl In the world and you wanted to return to be certain? And the next * time you became puzzled whether it was Ollie or Kay Laurell, and you bad to go again for a decision, and you kept it up until they fired us off the roof on suspicion? Or that s<iuab whose picture Is always where you are; tbe one you put a crimp In the bankroll through staking her to meals at tbe Onondaga? There's no girl like that girl. Is tbere? No? I've seen you yawn when looking at blondes that would bave stopped traffic at the stage door of a Dillingham show, and you certainly bave overlooked a bunch of brusets (probably thinking ot that ekirt), but did you ever ae^ Lillian Russell? There's a dilck if there ever was a chicken grown up. She must have been the original show girl, and tbere has been do. other. The rest are poor Imitations, and even now Lillian Rusaell can fade your Thomas', tAurells' and all the rest of tbe "Follies' " box office inviU- tions to a finish. Lillian Russell made the American stage. Tear this letter up after you read It. And you can stick to your squablet with the baby blue, for you are young still (though not so still) and hot so very im-prea-aion-a-ble (those long ones always put me on tbe bum; I purposely separate them to ease up a mis- take), BO maybe you don't miod, but tor an A. K. it's terrific The new. Ohaplin picture was on tbe bill too, and that Chaplin baa turned out-a corker. Tou will laugh your bead off the way he bangs hla brother around In one scene. I don't know wbat Frisco will say when be goes in tbe next theatre, without the new bouse set given him this week. Frisco makes good for New York vaudeville. He has Loretta McDermott and the Bert Kelly Jazzers with him. That iasz bond music to me Is like an orchestra In the old days playing ao overture «f "Barnyard Memories," but Frisco has them «going now around here, and will keep it up aa long as the going Ibn there, though be does roughen It quite some with McDermott In one number, a Frisco Apacbe, or bis Idea of It, with a shinny that goes double. That Frisco Is a cuss. Tou can't tell whether he's on tbe level or kiddlag, but when I bear what his salary is I'll tell you which, and If It's what I think it la, he's neither, Just a Wise kid from tbe west who came^east and cleaned up. Write soon, dim't ask for a photo of Lillian Russell, and .keep on getting up early In tbe morning. That gives you plenty of time to grow tired by night. Otherwise study hard and forget tbe dames. Aa ever, ^ Sime. RIVERSIDE. Tbe ouft-ent bill at tbe Riverside is without doubt one ot the speediest starting comedy en- tertainments framed in SMoe time. It set a pace from beginning to end, with but one slow . spot, the closing of tbe first part where Trizle Friganza was. Otherwise there wasn't a bit of fault that could be found with the entire per- formance, which, with the aid ot the Chaplin picture, ran until ll.lB. The houae held alm6st a capacity audience on the lower Boor and the balcony was filled entirely Tuesday night with tbe exception of a few seats hsre and tbere in tbe logs boxes. It was a comedy show with tbe Royal Oas- colgnes opening and scoring. Ths dog bit and the final with the cigar lightning were tbe biggest applause winners, although tbe chair balancing with dancing brought a healthy re- turn. The oonatant fire ot patter that runs through the aot brought laughs and placed the audience In a receptive mood. Rd Morton with bis songs held the second spot and after 11 minutes in which time be sang five songs, he left the audience asking for more. Al and Fanny flteadman followed the singer and were a laugh from the openlng^hen Fanny kidded tbe Morton turn for a moment right up to the finish with tbe comedy bow grabbing. Valerie Bergere and Co. in "Little Cherry Blossoms," next to closing the first part, re- ceived an ovation. The act has been brought up-to-date to tbe extent of InterpoIatInK sev- eral lines that apply to the situation In Russia today and the old laughs were ever present. . . Miss Bergere's performance brought several "■'demonstrHtlons of approval froathose In front,.- Closing tbe first part. Miss Friganza, with material designed and fitted by Jean Havez, entitled "Camp," (ailed to register In the man- ner expected. Her finish with the ball-throw- ing bit having the picture of Wllhelm Hoen- ^gollem as ths target carried effsctlvaly. But two acta and the ObipllD picture, "Shoulder Arms," constituted the second half of the show. Williams and Woltus o^ned and were a laugh all the way. The turn was the second act to give a semblance' ot stopping ' tho iSfiat,-': "Sh^re ia aWi tiUf* ■aB'!tb«.r4'tt*t- has been added In tbe last year or so and It all seemed new to the audlonoe. The fiesMie- Clayton act, closing the vaude- ville, was the biggest bit of the evening from an applause standpoint, with Miss Clayton sharing honors with tbe Conslnea, whose snare of applause was c^reater It anything than that ot the star of tho aggregation. Tom Dingle came in for bis portion ot the honors as did also John Oluran. Jlmmle Casaen's manner of delivery, though eeemiagly hampered by at- ' tire, appealed by vlrture ot bis vocal abllitiee. The Chaplin was a laugh cordial to a feaat of comedy. Fred, ALHAHBRA. " "Just say a little prayer For our boys over there," said Frank Wayne, house manager of the the- atre, as he stopped out on tbe stage, and in a well worded address, informed the audience B. F. Albee and A. Paul Keith bad decided that each evening at nine o'clock a half min- ute should be d&voted to praying for our boys who are fighting on tbe other side. He asked the audience to turn around and face East where they saw tbe American fiag Illuminated by a spot light wfaUo the remainder of tbe house was In darkness during the halt-minute period. This was roundly applauded and much favorable comment was heard about It in tbe lobby during the Intermission period. Tbe show ran mostly to comedy with tbe ^von Comedy Four closing tbe big laugh win- ner. "Birds of a Feather" (New Acts) opened nicely and then Fred Hallen and MoUle Fuller showed their vaudeville "Corridor of Time." Mies Fuller is now carrying a cane as she walks on and Hallen la doing all the d&nclng. Between old time songs and dances, some com- edy talk Is indulged and tbe laughs weris well placed. Moran and Wiser won laughs with th^lr hat juggling, the comedian taking many liberties with his audience in tbe throwing of the hats. The throwing into the theatre should be guard- edly and carefully done. Tbe act bos no change in music, business or tricks. After tbe prayer annouacement. Harry HInes walked out with a.^))andful ot scallions which he called tbe "Harlem Opera House supper Bbow," and went through a fine routine of ma- terial, some new and some not so recent. There are several reminiscent bits In HInes' act but he makes them look different and- his songs are put over In good voice with plenty ot personality and pep. His stories and character songs brought laughs and hU trav- esty dance bit won big laughs. He was called upon for a speech and he Invited anyone in the audience to gire him a hoine-made supper the following night.. "Tbe Weaker One," In which Hal Crane ap- peared earlier In the season, closed tbe first part. It tells a story of a sister and brother at tbe time of mobilization in France, with tbe brother afraid to go and with the girl anxious to fight for her country. Tbe playlet Is splendidly staged and tbe effects are nicely worked out. Tbe lack of programs, due -to the printers' strike, names 'of those in-tbe cast were unobtainable, but the boy plays excel- lently, while tbe girl over acts and reads her lines a trifie too quickly. Tbe mother and priest are nicely handled. The sketch could stand a little cutting and the effect at the finish could be greatly enhanced with a spot light showing the mother and priest in the ' doorway adi tho son departs for tbe front. Aftbi the ibtaiaslsslon Frankie Fay (New Acts) sang published songs. To^n Swift and Mary Kelly offered their com- edy Bkit, "$3,000," which won all tbe way. The comedy was nicely bandied and with Swift's quaint personality and nifty material and Miss Kelly's dandy appearance and good voice, made this act an outstanding feature. They scored individually and collectively. The Avon Four, with the restaurant act were a riot and could bave sung many more songs but Joe Smith, In a short speech, thanked the audience for Its appreciation and announced tbe old school room act will be presented by them at this theatre next week. The Chaplin-'picture "Shoulder Arms" held the crowd in until nearly midnight. ROYAL This Is war song week at the Royal and, be- sides having the array of military melodies, it also offers a show where most ot tbe acts do the laughing tbemeelvea. The self-laughing turns are tbe Klein Brothers, Watson Sisters and Mrs. Jlmmle Barry. The show Is short on comedy otherwise, with tbe Klein Brothers the laughing hit The opening Is the Harlequin' Trio, with songs and dances. They do little to little appreciation. Julian Hall, "Tbe Jazz Boy," did several things and scored. Jean Frazer, Edward Flnley and Ca pre- sented a preposterous sketch called "Skirts," with a German spy In It. The act dragged at times and proved nothing, excepting that even an Irish glrl-detectlve can forget her brogue. "Art" closed the first part and Interested. Immedlatoly preceding tbe picture the au- . dlencs arose and ottered a silent priyer. for half a minute white the spot light Was thrown on the flag on tbe stage, waved by an electric fan in the wings. ' During tbe Intermlstson psrlod, a four- minute speaksr held attention and then tbe Watson Sisters opened with a comedy war song and Fanny Watson followed it with an* other. Ttas talk won several good laughs and tbey finished with a topioal number in which tbey Interpolated a danco and a "blues" patter. Fannie Watson Is now whistling to th<» gallory •wIjmv tnUlus bowB and QE-tbd-IlaWs.'are;JftW., tbo gallery wbipMss right back and seems to enjoy It. Mr. and Mrs. Jlmmle Barry fared poorly wttb their sketch, "Tho Burglar." It seemod to be over the heads of some of tbo crowd and at other times tbe talk and songs seemed pointless. May be the Royal crowd does not understand rube comedy. Tbo songs were nicely bandied by Jlmmle Barry and the knit- ting of the white sock showed It will be finish-, ed by Mrs. Barry before tho season Is over. Ruth Roys, in a simple frock, started with a comedy^var song. Oflered an Irish war comic, using tbe same style as in tbo previous, song, then aang, what she stated was by request, the old "Robert B. Lee" song, which did not get much. As a finishing number she used an audience aong In which she mentioned eoveral different nationalities and finished with "Three Cheers for Uncle Bam" as the punch line. Miss Roye's material lacks tbe usual pep she has heretofore badT A rearrangement ot numbers might help. The Gbaplln picture. "Shoulder Arms," closed the show. tboso things would be to tbe detriment of the offering, but th?re is something locking—por- ..aps cevcroMhtngar 'Maybo.ltJs.the fact.that. „„pTPt;ttral|y: tb(r entire, "selection''- is playod-oB^ biievkoy, without aulScliaui tdatrdxl." '■ ''' '■'■''- Burns and Frabito, with tholr "wop" alng- ^ Ing ond crossfire act, tared neatly next to closing, with Catherine Crawford and her Fashion Girls concluding the variety section of. tbe entertainment. Jolo. 1 AMERICAN ROOF. Qene Myers la the Loew manager following Charlie Potsdam into tbe Americati. Mr. Potsdam is now picking out acts In tbe Loew booking office. He picks them for bills. Mr. Mysrs is after action. He thinks it be Is busy enough tbe fiu can't locate him. So he's all over the theatre all tho time. Myers Is putting action Into tbe Root show. There's a show from the timo the doors open, thereby opening the vaudeville at the old time, 8.30, bdt starting tbe stage around 7.30, which gets it In the eight o'clock limit, of course. Tbe house saw a two-reel comedy and the weekly before tbe variety commenced, and the pro- gram wound upL with ar^thor comedy, the Chaplin, that seemed to bave drawn the best crowd the Root has had on a week day in months. Before the vaudeville opened Jimmy Flynn came on. Jimmy is a song siitger, and when some in the audience started to applaud James smiled. It dosn't hurt to be popular, and they all seem to know Jimmy. He sang two songs and could have sung a couple more, but he slipped away, probably to make another, one, two, three or four more houses before tbe curfew rang him in for the night. But Jimmy might }uat as well bave stuck around, for the opening act was Elliott Best, a young man who tinkered around with some xylophone boartls. Either Blli6tt or the xylo- phone was out ot tune, but he kept at it for what seemed a long time. Mr. Best will have no Just kick if allowed to open small time shows. Aftsr him came Mack and West (New Acts),, followed by Frank Le Dent and Co. (girl) In juggling. Mr. Le Dent lias changed about his juggling turn, doing the kind ot Juggling he thinks will get tbe most laughs, regardless. ot who may bave done it before, and working in some comedy props which are his own. He got some laughs, more of them than applause, so Frank is on tbe right track, but be can stand even more comedy. Next were Walton and Francis (New Acts), and the comedian walked away with the laughing bit. Closing the first part was the Cameroff Troupe, or something like tbst, Russian dancers, who showed once on tbe big time, at the Palace, New York, where tbey opened tbe ebow. But Russian dancing ap- pears to bave been overdone, or maybe it should be cnlled by another Dame now, for the Dameroffs, while the big flash act of the bill, did nothing more than flash. In tbe second part Souths and Tobln opened, followed by Doris Hardy and Co., with a sobby chorus girl slangy skit that is now placed Just right. The small time will like the slang and tbe sobs. Carl McCuItough, an- other big timer, followed. It being next to closing by this time, but Carl started nothing. He got some giggles through bis department store bit, beeldes singing a ballad with reci- tation and a rube song with sayings, but tbey probably let Carl glide away without a re- turn through wanting to see the Chaplin tbey knew was waiting for tbem, Arenty Brothers, a couple of balancers by hand, closed, tbey walking on fully clothed, so you knotv what . that meant without waiting to see It. Going down tbe elevator one fellow' said to another, "Nat a bad show, eh?" and be had not seen the Chaplin nor the closing picture, so it spoke pretty well tor the performance, although the fellow who said it should have told where he saw tbe last vaudeville per- formance before this one. 8lme. FIFTH AVENUE. After the first three turns, WIki Bird, Smith and Kaufman and Bryan end Broderick (New Acts), the vaudeville portion of the program at tbe Fifth Avenue assumed tbe aspect of "big time," with Johnny Doolcy doing a nifty single, with a pianist, and continued with that calibre. Dootey rendered a Scotch ballad in which he revealed his versatility as a serious artist. It was beautifully phrased and full ot deep sentiment. He scored in his usual bril- liant way. ^Irw.In and Jane Connolly In a "heart in- tereei''-playlet ■ctiricd-''Tlie" Tsttf-«T •» "Saifl,*' Is a splendid effort to do something unique which somehow or other doesn't ring quite true. It recalls one of the recent Mary Pick- ford releases, J. M. Barrls's "The Old Lady Shows Her Medals," and heaven only knows wbat else, and in treatment suggests Williams and Tucker's "Bklnny's Finish." None ot HARLEM OPSRA HOUSE. V^ From tbe way tho people greeted the ChnPlin picture Monday night it seemed that woe the reason tor tho big buBlnoss. Tbo show went on to tbo dot of eight, and by tho time tb« first turn finished, not a seat left. Bob Tip and Co., consisting ot man, woman and dog, went through a lively routine in tho opening spot and scored. Opening in "one" for a song and dance by tho m&a and woman the couple go to full stage whore the dog finishes tho turn. Ono ot tbe closing teats of the dog, Jumping from the ground to a slack wire and balancing himself on foun and then his two hind feet, was the best liked and brought tho act big returns. Maj^ and Lcalla (New Acts) were followed by J.'Xi. Nugent in his "drunk" monologue,' which got a good number of laughs. His opening talk meant little to the Harlem's patrons, but under-way, things livened up and be went to a passable finlsb. J. C. makaa' an appearance in evening clothes, and that' goes a good ways with tbe 0. H. kind of audience, but bis talk strays away from them, at times. ■ . ,: Chaplin's "Shoulder Arms" interOeptod ondE furnished enough laughs tor six eomesy tumtv Espo and uutton followed the picture and dl(| nicely. Ben and Hazel Mann in their oont-^ edy singing and talking turn held the next tfl; closing spot and got the applause honora 6(' the evening. Tbe comedy by Ben and his partner's straight work were well liked hf., the patrons, wbo 6ent them over big, '■' Margaret Edwards, "The Perfect airl," In' a series of exercises and dances, closed the- show and ^passed. A fiverreei feature brwght the evening to a close. i;' HAMILTON. '••^ It may have been tbe Chaplin pieturis thai drew.the crowd Monday evening, pr becauae: It was a "first night," or the combination of, tbe two coupled with the feature fllm, "A Pair ot Silk Stockings," but be that as it, may, the house was packed. . ■■■~J Five acts on tho bill the first halt. TW first, Harry Karb, was a song "plugging".' turn. A misfit, baggy dross suit caaouCage4> the turn, for a time, to tbe unltlated. Fob*' tor end Seamori In tbe second spot scored wltli; songs and chatter. Bd Heron and Co., ou« man and two females, also WuQt tig-wlth .a' cleverly written comedy playlet. Although' bordering on tbe riaquo at times, it is a Clean' offering. Tbe story concerns a nowly-weddw,; bride whose foolish bead has been turned bf a hypnotist-lecturer. He preaches tho abanV^ donmont of the general noatnoss and cere of- one's dress, home and husband In favor ot one's mission or greet Ufework. What that llfework is does not matter. The busbabdj (Ed Heron), a traveling salesman, ceturna'. from a throe weeks' trip on tho road olid flnd^i a cold reception. A pseudo female doctor, id:- the .examination of hubby, arouses bis. wlfc^ti Jealousy and all ends well. > ^ "■% A War Review reel and tho Chaplin three^- reeler. Interrupted tbe bill at this point. Because ot the late hour, Johnny Sitiger' and Dolls, a danclqg turn, had to cut down^ on Its (line. George Armstrong, with a bait' dozen parodies on some more or less ancient song bits, closed the vaudeville. Tho paro* dies are nothing out ot the ordinary, as far.: as clevemoes of paraphrase Is concerned,'-but' bis happy persoimllty and really clever intto^- ductory chatter to each parody carry the act,: The first three parodies are not Id the boat <S' taste, either, one particularly so. , . ■.;, 23DSTREEt ' | The bill at the 23rd Street the first haU< was brimful of comedy. Manager Duffy wMii off duty, sick; not influenza, but acute In-g digestion. Pat McCarren was In charge. Tbe Wheeler Boys opened. Tbey look like' full-grown men and husky specimens. Theiri work found favor, a number of tricks being:' very well done. Bernard and Merritt (Noir; Acts), followed by tbe Forbes-Clark Co. (Neif' Acts). Beo Bertile registered solidly all tbe way, his talk proving funny, but bis music belDg.l bis mala prop. Oernio has worked in some new' violin stuff that was not used In the former Bcrnle and Baker act. If tala success at the 2.'!rd Is any criterion then Berate is firmly es-' tabllshed ss a single hit. The audience took to tho "Rising Qsnent-'' tlon" turn from the port. Kid acts always ap»' peal whether the Individuals are the least bit talented at all, but this collection ot youngstera not only arousu patriotism, but alao work up some corking good fun. Two male kidlcta stand out, ono a breezy, energetic boy who goes' in for comedy and makeH a bully success at. it, bis personality being most pronounced. This, act Is sure to bit fire onywboro, providing tbO' arm of tbe law docs not fall too heavily upon the youthful porsonnel,' - ■-■Sool«y-u«d-SBlwwerr«"-la-ttgWjiR:hI<ii'-.-.Thoj!^ "teamed" It up for comedy results that also.' helped tbo bill to strike ah unusually happy, mpdium. The loleen Slstsrs closed, the act' holding everybody In and proving a closer that made tbo show all tbe more impressionable. Mark. (Continued on page M.)