Variety (November 1918)

■^■•^'^\*^T'^'*''■'!■*'^''^■''■^T■■^V''^*^'^''^" *;. • '.■' ••■•''''*\ VAUDEVILLE ^■.■■:'i *miE SKIRT" SAYS— (Sptaking of Womcn-^mMtly) By THE SE3RT Belle Baker walked out on the stage at the Riverside Tuesday afternoon at 4:35 and held the large audience to the finish of her act. She is wearing a pink chiffon made on simple lines, giv- ing her figure quite a slender look. The. skirt is full with a bodice drawn tightly in horizontal lines. A belt was in three shades .of ribbon. The neck was cut square and there were bell shaped sleeves. * Frank Dobson has quite a pretentious girl act in "The Sirens." The gtrls, ten in number, appeared first in riding habits and sport clothes. They soon changed to pink chiffon dresses ruf- fled at the hem. The bodices were green veiled in the pink. Huge crown- . less hats were also of green. Good looking dresses were of the kerchief type in green and blue chiffon woven over dainty pink satin and lace trunks. A model number found each girl dressed in the height of fashion. One gown of green chiffon had wide bands of green and black satin. It was worthy of a Suratt. One green velvet . had two chains of emeralds as trim- ming. The panel back was lined with purple. It can safely, be said Mr. Dob-, son has the best dressed girl act vaude- ville has seen in many a season. Muriel Worth in a rather^ tiresome dancing act at least shows some nice changes of costumes. A black Velvet dress cut to the knees had baskets of rhinestones at the hem. A huge hat -tarried many feathers in all shades._ A dainty frock, also short,.was in pink and gold. The petticoats were narrow lace flouncings. Miss Worths' idea of "Madam Butterfly" w#s done in a mouse dress made like a kimona. The material had a green figured hand and was edged in orange. A shepherdess dress was in yellow ^ silk and lace skirts. The girl of Lou and Gene Archer appeared first in a blue chiffon dress ruffled at the hem. She changed to a yellow silk trimmed in blue net. The girl of the Ferraros was in white satin and jet Monday afternoon at the Royal were many interesting facts. The house was packed. At three o'clock Manager Egan walked on the stage and announced that every whistle in the city was blowing over Austria quitting. Mr. Egan then asked the great assemblage to face the east and pray for our boys over there, and every one from child up seemed overcome. ^The house rose and cheered. The bill started off nicely with Chin- ko and company.. The company was in a short white satin dress. A huge pink meline bow was at the back. Tak- ing off the skirt to do a few stuiits on a bicycle the girl had on short white satin pants trimmed in blue. Hallen and Fuller, next, pleased the older part of the audience. Miss Fuller wore a skirt of white and blue stripes. A short coat was in sapphire segnins. By turning back her skirt Miss Fuller showed her limbs clad in white tights. There wds still another change of cos- tume. Harry Langdon amused the Bronx- ites with his sketch. The women are still wearing the sport suit of red and white and the blue policeman's outfit. Also on thfc bill were Valerie Ber- gere and Fannie Stedman, "Eddie -Leonard attd. the Gladiators.,.,,...I,..- To be sure "Be Calm CanuHa" at the Booth isn't Clare Kummer at her best, but Arthur Hopkins has taken this little play and made of it a gem. One setting, a private room in a hospital, was so pretty one would rather enjoy being ill in such surroundings. Lola Fisher seemed to be having the time of her life there. Miss Fisher in bed wore a pink satin nightie. Reposing on a mahogany colored chaise-longue she wore a chiffon pegnoir in pink. In the second act Miss Fisher had a sport suit consisting of a white skirt stripped in green and chartreuse. A beltea coat matched the chartreuse. Hedda Hipper made a stunning nurse and Carlotta Monterey showed distinction in her clothes. Her blue cloth dress was embroidered in green. An evening gown had a plaited skirt of silver and black stripes, while the bodice was plain silver. A short shoul- der cape was in silver lace. At the Colonial this week the bill starts with Miss Merle and Co. The company consists of several brightly colored parrots. Miss Merle wears a dress of blue beads made over a pink lining. On her head is perched a saucy little hat. ^ EfRe Weston (with Donald Kerr) could improve her worth were she to purchase a new outfit. Her clothes have seen service for some time. Santi calls herself "The Girl with the Wonderful . Arms." The same could also apply to her limbs. Santi does two dances in short robes of sparking material. Alta Krom, with Santi, wears a gown of metallic cloth of silver hue. Jessie Brown, dancing with Bert Kalmar in their new act called "Bug- land," will go down iu this season's history as one of its best dressers. Her butterfly costume draws applause. The act de luxe on this week's Col- onial program is Lois Josephine and Tyler Brooke. Miss Josephine ap- pears first in a black lace dress. The skirt is finely plaited with a coat-like bodice of a heavier lace. There is a wide' belt of blue and pink ribbon and a large hat. A pink muUe dress had two' large standing hems and a side drapery edged with pale blue ribbon. A leghorn hat was carried. A valen- tine number was done in a rather fan- tastic costume. The tightly-fitting bodice of yellow velvet came well over the hips7 ending in square scallops. A tiny skirt of blue net and sequins was worn over long net pants edged in colored ribbons. There was _ a closely fitting cap of the velvet. Miss Josephine then did her "Mary" num- ber in a white net crinoline. A bridal dress was of the regulation white satin draped over lace petticoats. There was also a tiny lace apron effect and a veil. Clothes with Tyler Brooke must be a religion, he looked so spic and span. Mr. Brooke makes three changes, a morning suit, consisting of checked trousers and black coat (a combina- tion worn so much by the late Vernon Castle), a dinner coat, and then full evening clothes with top hat. The couple are a very engaging act ARTISTS' FORUM CMtM ItMvt to IM mwd* and wrtU on om Ma tt p«ptr wily. ABiiiifiiiiw Bf nwlratlniii tdll sot bt prlMttd. Nun* «f writir mwt k« rifl aad vtt IM htU la moMmw. If dattr^. UNen ts b« Mblkbtd ia thla «iBluimi nuul b* wfllAtn exabulTaly t« YARIRT. OnpBMtod Uttm irlU not b* prlptM. SB New York, Nov. 4. Editor Varibtt*: — Won't you please make the critics on Variety read the advertisements in the paper. The advertisements would tell them more than they seem to know In January, 1917, we advertised in Vabibtt that O'Rourke and Killian were then using our act. In last week's Yuxmrr "Jolo" kind of intimat- ed that we have the same act once done by O'Rourke and Killian. That tends to make us copyists by inference, after we had gone so far as to try to Sirevent O'Rourke and Killian (no onger a vaudeville team) from em- ploying our material. It's just awful, that's all. Why can't Jolo spend as much time verifymg his guesses as he does watching shows. We're for that. Tell it to him. Tell him to be more careful, tell him any- thing you want to and we'll O. K. it, 'and also tell him the next time he catches us to straighten this matter out, which will pvt us more publicity if you also publish this letter. As for anything else we hope your bunch of critics are eating regrularly although we heard different Smith and Kaufman. Editor Varibtt: New York, Nov, 2. "A Daughter of the Sun" has reached Eastern territory again, with Ed. Rowland sponsoring it alone. The show, with Walter S. Baldwin, the former dramatic stock promoter, as manager opened at the Grand, Brook- lyn, this week. Nat Griswold joined Monday, Paul Scott fixing the engage- ment. Hattie Hirchnar. has complained to the National Vaudeville 'A«ociati6ri that N. Provol, manager of the act known as "The Golden Bird," in which she appeared, had broken a written contract and dismissed her without the two weeks' notice called for in the agreement. The N. V. A. has directed Provol explain the matter. In justice to me and tiiy many friends who must have read "The Skirt's" criti- cism in this week's Varibtt, please print this in the Artists' Forum. They say every dog has his day; hence this letter. The skirt said: "The girl of Walton and Francis should take a good look at her lower limbs before donning a kid frock. They are too fat and not shapely." By actual measurements, said "lower limbs" are-an eighth of an inch smaller than they should be for my size and weight. She also should cultivate u sense of humor. I thought my bow-legged bus- iness, made possible by double-jointed knees, was so obvious that no one could fail to see it was meant for com- edy, not unshapeliness. Previous to our criticism she wrote up Billy Watson's show. I supposed her brain was still visualizing the "enormous legs" she spoke of, and mine being the only exposed pair in sight, they likewise assumed enormous proportions. In justice to yourself, you should consult some noted optician, my dear "Skirt." My "short-waisted white satin dress" is—pale pink. May Francis. Boston, Nov. 2. Editor Varibtt: Your issue of this week states New York exemption boards are sending questionnaires to registrants over 36 years of age. Many players may have difficulty in filling out their question- naires and in obtaining expert advice. I shall be pleased to help members of the profession, without charge, at the above address or the local board for Division 14 of this city. Edward M. Dangel. ...... (Mr. D.ang.c!. I? an .attorney with of- fices at ISf Trembnt street Boston.) of the profession that he isn't with the l. act any more, also that we are ,iisinjc ~ his name. I could have saved him afl ^4 that trouble had he asked me about it .'' The booking oflices (and what few '■■-r agents that know Mr. Corbett) heard ; that he was out of the act three months 1 9go, and the act was booked just the '■ same. As for using his name, he is all ■- wrong. I changed one letter in hia i; name, and the act is booked as Cocbitt, ..':' Shepard and Dunn. I used Mr. Got--.:? bett's suggestion that he offered when i;; Walter Donovan left the act, and that ; / was to change one letter in the vxiob, '\i^ so he has himself to blame. -:4 His statement that I told the Kauf- .,? man Bros, that we had an ar^ment f.' and that was the reason for his joining 4; the navy is not so, and the Kaufmtti 'ii'' Bros, would like to hear from him. >i?1 He also said that he hasn't any io!' .>^; tentions of joining the act after the !'; war is over. Why does he flatter him- v self? When Mr. Donovan left the ;.' act he was replaced, and the act :< worked; Mr. Corbett left and he was ^;;; replaced, and the act is working, and -^f: if I were to leave I woul<^ be replaced^ vj and the act would work just the same.; ;^ Mr. Corbett admits we were friendaj.-: . when he left the act, which is true, but ^ i he doesn't say how he panned me all v--' summer over a thing which could have V: been avoided had he used a little judg- ;« ment Sam Shepordi § Atlanta, Ga., Oct. 30. Editor Varibtt: Notice in Varibtt an act playing in t New York under the name of Stetson: " and Huber. The original Stetson and' Huber are with "So Long Letty" com- c i pany. . •;.. Stetson and Chad. Long Branch, Can., Oct 28. Editor Varibtt: Will you kindly ask some of tht ?: music publishers to send me copietvv; and orchestrations of their latettr.'. music. Paul Blaufox, (Formerly with "Getting Together".> : R. F. C, Squadron E,^ -i Long Branch, Canada. .; Besten, Nev. 1. Editor lAxam-. In last week's Varibtt I read an article sent in by my former partner notifying all managers and members ONLY ONE GOLF BU& Sam A. Scribner has been duly se- ' lected and accepted as the single golf ... bug among the executives of the : Columbia Amusement Co. ' The chiefs of the burlesque circuit ; agreed upon Scribner, and he acceded ^:: to the choice himself. The other bosses of the circuit are; \ J. Herbert Mack, and R. K, Hynicka. •; Mr. Mack, as prestdent, has a country V home he has turned into a hobby, and; . Mr. Hynicka, the treasurer, is mostly engaged in finding the shortest rout*- between Cincinnati and New York. When a chance conversation the other day in the Columbia offices brought out the possibility of Mr. • Mack going in for a golf outfit, Mr. : Scribner called a special meeting on the spot. He presented his claims to recognition as the sole stickist, and also charged himself with being a good player. At that Mr. Mack caved in. and stated that although he had heard of the contrary, if Scribner had progressed-to-the poititiR-golfwJwn^f^^ he believed it himself, then he (Mack) was afraid to monkey with the game. Mr. Hynicka was passive through- out the conversation, merely renaark- ing if golf held more action and e»- citement than politics he would twitch over when convinced.