Variety (December 1918)

10 BURLESQUE • • • ■- - : 20TH CENTURY MAIDS. - "20th Century Maids" with Jim Barton. He is now featured In the billing and de- serves all of !t The chorus la as sprightly aa of yore, with the girls gutlne a stage vacation when Bar- ton is out there alone either dancing or pulling olt some fuu that Tuesday night had 'em hollering for more. The girls were 17 strong on the opening, with the show running some length before the "dress" made any kind of a flash. The girls didn't seem to exert them- selves with few gestures made and much of the routine Including a sort of military formation, much marching being done from start to Barton carried the whole show In his palm. The second comedian is Billy Barnes an ac- ceptable right hand bower for Barton, both comedians dressed in nondescript attire. Barnes works effectively and la something of a whistler. Joe Opp Is the straight. Hes a big fellow but always seemed sure of hs "p's" and "Q'a" working smoothly in his scenes with both the women and the comedians. As the keeper of the sanitarium, Arthur Young made a Al Job of the part and at no time did he attempt to "hog" anything. Ed. Golden fluctuated between several caric- atures, appearing flrBt as an old man and later adopting Juvenile garb one minute and rough clothes the next The "Maids" haB practically a brand new per»onnel from last season and topping the list 1b Florence Belmont, who appears as a "vampire widow." When It comes to dressing, work and voice Miss Belmont is a burlesque queen of some magnitude. She handles her- solf with ease and grace, knows how to wear becoming stage outfits and she proves berseit a valuable acquisition to the show. Tillie Bar- ton is stronger on looks than anything, efforts to blug being accompanied by hoarseness which mitigated. Miss Barton also wore some nifty wardrobe. ' Madlyn Worth is the soubret She carries herself pretty well but hasn't any voice to speak of and her dancing Is of ordinary calibre. She's not a bit ashamed to show her legs in some coverings that made them ever conspicu- ous As they are not bad to look at that helps. Juliette Belmont Is another principal who gets quite a workout, her main forte apparently being her ability, vocal numbers being used one minute and violin the next (the Instrument was used in , a specialty). Juliette runs strong to plumes for hair dress and does her best to always look neat and nifty despite her plumpness. Her voice Is of high range but she's Inclined at times to mush her words, " making it hard to distinguish what the num- ber Is about _ _^_ The "Maids" has retained much ot the com- edy byplay that was with the show last sea- son, with Barton presenting some new angles, this being especially true of some ot his dancing. » The biggest laugh getters were the bal- let dance travesty by Barton, the souse "bit" by this same comedian In the cafe scene and the boxing burlesque by Barton and Toung. Barton's "skating" on the big shoes was also sure fire. Scenleally the show measures up to stand- ard proportions, the girls pass muster as a whole but their deficiencies became apparent when individual singling out was made. The show part Is entitled "All For Fun," with book by John Q. Jermon, Joe Opp and Abe Leavitt; music and lyrics by Cowen and Strause. One period becomes quite serious with a grand ensemble ot a patriotic char- icter, with men like Washington, and Persh- ing impersonated and characters of Uncle Sam, the American Girl, the old fashioned mother being Introduced. As patriotism is running higher than 100 per cent this phase was well received, although a gallery god almost dhj- concerted the Washington Impersonation by making a funny verbal crack. Jfdrfc. THE RECORD BREAKERS. This is one of those chummy affairs. A sort of a get-togetber with the audience and let them amuse themselves. There are two num- bers, a kissing number early and a bean-bag affair later that make for a lot of fun and both tend to break down the barriers between those In front and on tbe stage. It is a mighty good thing tbe Olympic management has Its audience very much in the palm of its band, otherwise the "boys" would have been apt to start something, for the invitation was all too apparent. On the whole It was a case of tights and Bhort skirts for the women, with the exception of a character woman, from beginning to end. In other words it is an old time burlesque ahow with lega and laughs. The program matter anent tbe offering is very elaborate and It leads oft with "Jack Held and his own famouB company 'The Record Breakers' introducing bis latest and triumphant success, a satrlcal comedy, revised and staged by Mr. Jack Bold. Gloriously Illuminated with beautiful scenic effects, haunting music and bewitching girls and fascinating char- acters, teeming with life, color and animation." -That'H-going some for a second wheeler! The show m'""'presented la two acts;- hav- ing five full stage scenes, the house drop being used for scenes In "ono." Of these there are threo In the two acts. Seven principals In the show and 18 girls. These vary from the fat to the slim, the tall to tbe short, with an Intermediate class of plump and medium. Tbe first act Is entitled "Camouflage" and In it Held does Irish with Annie Hart, the character woman, playing opposite him to good effect. Miss Hart walked away with the in- dividual hit honors with a song specialty In "one" doing an Irish Biddy and putting over three numbers. There Is a alight attempt at a story at the opening • of the act, but it is discarded about five minutes after the cur- tain and from that time on it Is all up to the numbers to carry the show. In addition to Held there are three other principal men. Two, Jos. C. Barrett and Bon- bom Bell, work as straights, While Hy Janeen does a tramp In the first part and blackface In the afterpiece. The two straights are of ordinary calibre, very much stilted In style and neither shows anything In a dancing way. Bell has something of a voice but that is about all. Mildred Howell is an Ingenue prima donna type while the soubret role Is bandied by Toots Kemp. The number leading is spilt between them. There Isn't very much wardrobe dis- played by either. There are changes enough to be sure, but all the. dresses run to the short length soubret type. Miss Kemp Is- a rather gingery worker who gets to the boys, but Miss Howell, while a good looking blonde with' heaps of physical attraction, lacks that animation spoken of early on the program and fails to get over until rather late In the boot when she cuts loose In lace tights. This and a bathing number In which the girls do a dis- robing act an<T then prance around In silk envelopes over full length tights, and a strip tights fashion parade at the close are Oxe big punches. There is also an aviation number, with the girls wearing hooded tights that suggest the costume of a flyer, In which the girls look good. For the novelty punch there Is the aero- plane on the crane which swings out over the audience. In a small house like the Olympic this should have been a whale of a number, but Miss Howell lacked the pep to put It over. There la a spectacular finish to the first act with the soubret doing "Miss Liberty" atop of a pedestal and the chorus In partial military dressings. In the second halt Reid does his dope char- acter. He la Introduced through the medium of a "motion picture" song that brings a Pick- ford, Chaplin, Bara Impersonation by various member of the chorus, while behind three transparancies at tbe rear the girls go through a lingerie display In a representation of a shop window. The laughs In this portion are .the work of Reid and Jansen working to- gether: The chorus works pretty much as It pleases, making about 12 changes during the show. Their dressing needs attention, for the cos- tumes for the greater part show traces ot hard wear and a little freshening up would not be amiss. As a good old fashioned burlesque "The Rec- ord- Breakers" Is there, but some of those undressing bits, and tbe full-tights dressing come pretty near to being the limit Fred. BURLESQUE CHANGES. The Ed. F. Rash show, "Paris by Night" (American), in bad shape since the company opened its circuit tour, has been fixed since censored by the American heads. Owing to Rush's ill- ness, Charles M. Baker took up the work of strengthening. In addition to several changes among the principals, including the withdrawal of Arthur Lanning and the substitution of Ray- mond Montgomery, Art H. Moeller succeeded Frank Burns as manager. Rush has not been seen around the lo- cal burlesque offices since his illness. Simonds & Lake have changed their show, "Auto Girls" (American), con- siderably. Jim McCauley, Jewish comedian, and Caprice, ingenue, are. now with the show. Strouse & Franklyn also are chang- ing principals next week, with 'The Pirates," George M. Banks, comedian, and Joe Argus, -straight, having been signed through Redelsheimer, open- ing Dec. 2. George Jaffe, operating burlesque stock at the Academy, Pittsburgh, was in New York during the latter part of last week engaging players for his company. Elsie Bradon, soubret, joined Monday. He also obtained Amorita (dancer) and Ella Tavolotto (soubret). New first part and all new principals for T. W. Dinkins' "Innocent Maidens." The principals are Mitty Devere, Bob Nugent, Al Turpie, May Walsh, Belle Costello, Kitty Madison. Gene and Ethel Beaudry in "Hip Hip Hooray" company; Babe Le Vetta in "Girls from the U. S. A.," replacing Arulia Clark; and Babe Healy in Mar- nc-yGer-ard's "Girlfs d« LookSt'! replac- ing Babe Burnette, booked by Rdehm & Richards. MAY STAR DOUGLAS. George Douglas, now with Billy Ar- lington in "The Golden Crook," signed a six years' contract with .Jacobs & Jermon last week. J. & J. plan to star him season after next. "ALICE" STILL STIRS 'EM UP. Syracuse, N. Y., Nov. 27. Good burlesque shows usually come from a big city and most of the regu- lar organizations on the wheels are formed in New York. New York has grown so metropolitan that the home address of its best citi- zens are too plentiful to locate, and as the husbands in New York seldom go home for lunch, there is not that frequent communication between "of- fice and home" found in rural com- munities like Scranton and Bingham- ton. All of which appears to have been unsuspected by the publicity fellow of "The Mischief Makers." Binghamton- ians .believe him to be unmarried. As "The Mischief Makers." Binghamton- Binghamton, the homes were notified of it by postcards, addressed to the heads of the residences and inviting them to call at the theatre to see "Alice." While the wives in Binghamton did not admit it,- they instantly concluded that ihe last "business trip," they were told of with their husbands taking it alone had something to do' with "Alice." Tsome wives inquired of their husbands with the kitchen mop held behind their backs. Others sneeringly expressed their opinion of "Alice," and those who had their "suspicions any- way made a gala hour of the postcard's advent. Most of the husbands squared themselves at home, then slipped off to the theatre to see if there were real- ly anything in it or if thy had ever met "Alice" under another name. The show caused the same domes- tic excitement in Scranton. It seems to work so well the management will probably keep it up in the smaller cities. It has been a helping draw at matinees, when the women slip around to take a look. Any Alice in the show has changed her name. AVIATOR AN AGENT. Charles Croft, at one time head of T. W. Dinkins* "Innocent Maids," who enlisted in the U. S. Aero Squadron, and was aboard the Tus- cania when it was torpedoed, is back in New York, and has returned to bur- lesque work, going ahead of the Op- penheimer show. For two months he laid in a hos- pital in London as the result of an aeroplanic accident. SPECIAL THANKSGIVING SHOW. Philadelphia, Nov. 27. The Shuberts are going after the coin in this city Thanksgiving. Last year several speculators rented the Academy of Music for" a special Thanksgtving show afternoon and evening and cleaned up several hun- dred dollars. The Shuberts are "in" with it this year, and have made up a show of their principals from their shows now playjng here. The bill includes John Charles Thomas and John T. Murray ("Maytime"); Irene Franklin, Burt Green, Willie and Eugene Howard, Fred and Adele Astaire, Nancy Fair and Isabel Roderiguez ("The Passing Show"), and 10 other acts. The latter are not listed, but will be "pick-ups." Only one performance is to be given by the Shubert aggregation in the even- ing. HOUSE SUED FOR "BOOK." Allen Spencer Tenney, author, is plaintiff in a suit against Sam Howe, the burlesque producer, claiming $300 due for services rendered the defend- ant JH.writing a."boQk" for a burlesque show, which, he alleges, Howe "pro- duced and did not pay for. The plain- tiff does not mention the name of the show. • Howe, through Leon Laski, his attor- ney, admits the submission of the sce- nario to him, by Tenney, but adds he rejected it as unavailable. The trial is scheduled for this week. LOST "ROLL* IN HIS TRUNK. Buffalo, N. Y., Nov. 27! ' What appeared at first to be a sensa- tional robbery "fell through" Monday morning when Detective Sergeants Glor and McDonald went to the apart- ment of Richard E. Patton, manager - of the Gayety, and unearthed his - - "roll" containing over $2,000. Earlier in the. day Patton had re- ported . to the police he had been robbed while he slept Patton, when he arose for the day, could tiot find the money in bis. trou- - sers pocket, where he thought he had ' put it, and immediately got in touch with the third precinct police station. The case looked-big for a while and police headquarters and the detective bureau were rung in on it. Detective- . Sergeants Glor and McDonald went- ; to the apartment to look for clues. While there they got a notion to make a careful search for the missing money. The roll, which contained exactly $2,008, they found, they say, in the top of Patton's trunk. He had evi- - dently placed it there and forgotten -: all about it. _ Some of Patton's friends are laugh- ing quite loudly at him now and won- dering why a man could forget what he did with such a roll Patton laughs, too, but says that it was a grand and glorious sensation to see his missing roll again. . „- MRS. LEW KELLY WINS DECREE. . The divorce action brought by Mrs.. Laura Kelly against Lew Kelly was tried last week before. Justice Scudder in the Supreme Court at Mineola, L. I. The defendant made no appearance. His brother, Lieut John Kelly, Avia- tion Corps, testified in favor of his sister-in-law. He came by aeroplane. A decree in favor of Mrs. Kelly was granted. STOCK BURLESQUE AT 10-15. Chicago, Nov. 27. Izzie Herk's Gaiety, closed for weeks- £ after it had started" on a season of stock burlesque, reopened this week with stock burlesque and pictures, at 10-15. Izzie Weingarten will ran the house and shows. , ^ • CHORUS GIRLS OBTAINABLE The complaint of the shortage of chorus . girls amongst the burlesque managers has stopped in New York, where there seems now to be a bigger supply than during the war. GERMAN COMIC HAS PASSED. ' Little belief exists that erstwhile German burlesque comics will attempt to again don the chin whiskers. Several producing managers declare the day of the German comedian has passed for many seasons to come. Shenandoah- Wants Burlesque. When M. J. O'Hara, manager of the O'Hara Theatre, Shenandoah, Pa., learned some of the Pennsylvania towns on the American Circuit were unable to* play the scheduled shows, owing to a renewal of the influenza ban, he hopped a train last week and hurried to the American offices in the hope of getting some of the shows that might lay off down his way. O'Hara plays vaudeville, booked via Philadelphia, when his house isn't housing traveling combinations.. Amer- ican shows tried Shenandoah for a time, but as a circuit stand the town didn't pan out very well. ;i Bill Roche Moves to Cleveland. Chicago, Nov. 27. Bill Roche, veteran manager of the Star and Garter (Columbia wheel) has resigned to run the Empire, Cleveland (American). He moved Sunday. His successor has not yet been named.