Variety (April 1919)

K^ffi^fS^i'^^ip^'if^iifjs^itfB^ff^^ '"~r7 ■• 't^:i:^^vr-^;^V'-/v'; ; .' ■'.-•'■■■" u ' : -^Z : ^-^''^Wr : 'W : 'H F?"*J* »* '. :V> ' SHOW REVIEWS K-7 *J J ^ *3 M *ii other young man. Mr. Mack coached blm aa be proceeded. This naturally Interfered, though the pianist did extremely well, If he had Just walked Into the act that evening. Mack has arranged an agreeable routine of 'songs and stories. His storied entrance into an Irish number is done so neatly by him It acta as a surprise, and' supplies a foundation for the song that gives it added value. The Irish stories are there and are liked, with the "Moon" song later, of course, then a closing number of the fighting 08th. Mr. Mack opened the turn with a quick story anent "Beer-Bevo," but be might as well polish It off by saying as tbe rest do concerning that particular gag, that Bevo Is near-beer. At that, though, another would be preferable. The "Bevo-Beer" and "Beer-Work." thing has been already killed In vaudeville. Tbe "detest tbe wife" line in Holtz' turn should go out In family neighborhoods. There may be many a poor wife In front who. will have her heart strings contracted by that one and again many a mutt may believe It gives bim a permit if it is a matter for a Joke. Otherwise, excepting the "chicken" gag and the "wild women" lyrics, Holtz is doing right well. The "wild women" song does not stand a re- peat, and having been sung before at the Fifth Avenue, It laid down on Mr. Holtz. But the same could not be said about Holtz' "Re- gretful Blues." Lou made It sound like a new song. And In tbe Spanish number be used tbe "spine on both ends" gag for his biggest laugh. This boy Is going to be a very regular, regular among the blackface comics of vaude- ville It he will go at his work Just a bit more seriously. It should not make any difference to blm whether he is at tbe Palace or the Fifth Avenue, or whether bs is working to capacity or a handful, as long as he la working. It's only those with established reps who can afford to loaf or cheat. The "Don't Lose Tour Nerve" sketch of tbe Cameron demons company nicety suits for the smaller big time. It hasn't much to It, but takes a laughing turn for a moment toward the finish, and this carries It over. The piece really calls for,three corking players. The sketch has three,' and they just about get over, with tbe girl stenog leading. The show did not start until 8.30, after the weekly, with Mabel Burke at the take-off, singing once more the animated 111. number, "Some Day I'll Make Tou Glad," or something like that. Although a swift repeat through the manner probably it was received at this bouse when Miss Burke previously sang it, the bal- lad again went over with an encore demanded. Monday was the first real summer day of the year, and It got to everyone. That could account for mucb, on the stage and In the audience. Sime. AMERICAN ROOF. Hit honors were divided the first bait be- tween Ubert Carleton, a blackface comedian In "gob" attire, and Sgt. Bowman and Corporal, Shea, billed as Sgts. Shea and Bowman, with the two-aet having'a shade on tbe "single.^ Following the Century comedy film, Claude Austin opened with a fast nine-minute Jug- gling routine. Connolly and Francis, boy and girl, song act, featuring a melodian, held at- tention in the second spot. Lola Selblnl, assisted by an unbilled mas In bell-hop make-up, did cycling, dancing, and singing. Her "impressions" how various people, viz., Gertrude Hoffman, BUI Hart, Tbeda Bara, et al, would ride a bicycle, scored. Miss Selblnl appears in full length tigbta a good deal of tbe time, and by gestures and re- marks evinces she Is proud of Her form. She has a charming personality,. and that goes a long ways. - Brown and Jackson, song and dance, seemed to be breaking in some new chatter, as the man Ellpped on his cue once, the woman's prompting being heard back In the seventh row. His "crazy grasshopper" dance solo, in which he gives his elongated form full play, scored In- dividually. The girl's numbers are rather passe. She should incorporate a couple of new ones. The Zlegler Slaters, with a male pianist and special orchestra leader, drummer and trom- bonist In the pit, did three dances—Jatz, classic and military, with solo interpolations by the company. Before the drop In "one," the pianist announces, In song form, he 1b in love with two girls, and he will let the audience decide which one he should choose by applause. He does not carry the plan to its Statural con- clusion, however, since the sisters' efforts are all In the form of double numbers. Carleton (New Acts) opened the second half. Dorothy Hayes and a company of a man, who essay the husband role, and a woman, who takes the sniffing maid part, pleased with a domestic sketch. Miss Hayes does the baby talk chatter, a la Lola Pratt in "Seventeen," to perfection. The Darras Brothers, In Spanish dress, with much "Spanish music" and castlnets In the orchestra pit, delivered a fast six minutes of acrobatics and hand stands. The News reel closed at 11. 23D STREET. Standing up at Proctor's 23d Street Tues- day night when the De Burg Sisters started tbe vaudeville. These two French looking girls have a fast routine of magic, most of it familiar. The best trick Is similar to the Hin- doo Basket stunt, one slater perforating a box with swords in which the other one is Incased In same. Good small time opener. Rogers and Barrett, second, are using the old Gallagher and Barrett "Battle of Too Soon." They play It In "one" with a special drop, and have modernized It considerably. It Is appropriate of these strenuous times and should keep them working. The tray spot was drawn by Powers and Wallace, two down homey people who pleased the 23d streeters immensely. The man la fea- turing a corn pone accent and a catch line oft repeated, "Lord have Mercy," gets laughs. They have' changed their opening since playing the Harlem opera house recently, toe girl eliminating a violin solo. They finish wjth a Jazz song and dance, for which they are all out of character. The bench to used. "Tbe Turn of the Cards" (New Acts), a j four-people sketch, held Interest In fourth po- sition. Dooley and Dooley with their versatile sing- ing and dancing turn scored easily. From their entrance on unlcycles singing an Eng- lish sounding lyric to their finish in Omar Khayam outfits they get results. Their audible comments continually about the engagement and audience were unexplalnable. The Shirley Sisters followed. They have plenty of pep, and the shorter of the two 1b quite a looker, with considerable personality. They are using popular numbers. The ward- robe needs freshening. Chris Richards, English, was next to closing and bad easy sailing. He Is offering the same routine exhibited here on bis first visit to these shores. The business with the hat and the body twists and comedy legs of this lime Juicer are as funny as ever. Richards Is an experienced showman who can please on any bill, and had no trouble handling the prole- tsrlnts The Three Eddys with their old act closed the show. They are In policeman's uniform, the only change. They got plenty of laughs with their rough clowning and funny pantomiming. Most of the house remained for the feature picture, "Tbe Lion and the Lamb.". well written. Her closing number, "I Bet I'd Be a Riot Down On Broadway," doesn't belong, but couldn't overcome the good Impression pre- viously registered. She closed a solid hit. Yerke's Jazarlmba Orchestra followed by the feature picture closed the show. If tbe audi- ence had their way tbe closing honors would have gone to the Jazzlsts, for after 23 minutes of syncopation they were clamoring for more. This bunch consists of eight men. Three xylophonlsts, a pianist, cornettlst, trombone player and Yerke as the only featured soloist doubling on a saxophone and flute. They are dandy musicians and know how to milk a Jazz loving crowd. They were tbe applause hit of the evening. SHOWS LAST HALF. (April 3 to 6.) 5TH AVENUE, AUDUBON. A Tom Mix Comedy, Universal Current Events, with "The Marriage Market" featuring the picture division, and six vaudeville acts comprised the program at the Audubon the flrBt half. Tbe Four Raeders, two men and two women. Following the Kinograms, Cummin and Soa- nara opened with a comedy acrobatic turn and won approval. Lillian McNeill, with songs and dances, earned an encore, responding with an Impersonation of John Boyle's eccen- tric stepping. Townsend, Wilber and Co. (the latter a young woman) scored with a comedy sketch. Bert and Botty Wheeler are Including a good deal of the Wheeler-Moran material in their skit. Mr. Wheelee and Mr. Moran were former partners. Moran, who has Joined forces with George Lane, Is also not averse to retain part of the old act In the new partnership, wltu the result that every vaude- ville patron is quite familiar with the various bits. Mr. Wheeler has added some new bits of hokum and business with the shirt-tall, the white and yellow handkerchiefs and the "Painless Parker" make-up. McMahon Diamond with Ethel Rosevere, Is the billing of a three-act, doing some nifty Btepplng before a special curtain set In "three." One gets the "pig latin" song across very well. A "doll" number has the "doll" thrown Into the audience to be caught by a plant. She Is McMahon. The man Is a hard worker and executed several difficult hock steps in PROTECTED MATERIAL VARIETY'S Protected Mnterlal Department will receive and (lie nil letters addressed to if. The envelopes are to be scaled upon the back In n manner lo prevent opening without detection, unless by permission of the owner of the letter. „,,,,„_, It is suggested all letters be registered, addressed to Protected Material, VARIETY, New York, and receipt requested. VARIETY will acknowledge each letter received. Full particulars of the "Protected Material Department" were published on Page 5 in VARIETY of Feb. 4, 1916. , . . ,„ , .„, . The following circuits, managements and agencies .have signified n willingness to adopt such means as may be within their power to eliminate "lifted material" from their theatres, when informed of the result of an investigation conducted by VARIETY: MARCUS LOEW CIRCUIT (Jos. M. Schcnck) FOX CIRCUIT (Edgar Allen) MILgJS CIRCUIT (Walter F. Kcefe) FINN-HE1MAN CIRCUIT (Sam Kuhl) BERT LEVEY CIRCUIT (Bert Levey) SHEA CIRCUIT (Harry A. Shea) FEIBER-SHEA CIRCUIT (Richard Kearney) ALOZ CIRCUIT (J. H. Aloz) PANTAGES CIRCUIT (Walter P. Keefe) B. S. MOSS CIRCUIT (B. S. Moss) GUS SUN CIRCUIT (Gus Sun) MICHIGAN VAUD. CIRCUIT (W. S. Buttcrfield) started the show nicely with a fast gymnastic routine, strength tricks by tbe women being featured. Story and Clarke had the hit and run spot, opening In "one" with what appears to be two pianos, the man playing one and later remov- ing a cover, which reveals tbe other instru- ment as a xylophone. This Is tbe only at- tempt at originality. The act is constructed in* the usual way, with the male member piano and xylophone soloing between numbers by the women. They closed quietly. "Married Life," a three people playlet, fol- lowed, and proved a little too inconsistent even for the easy going Audubonlans. The story embraces a familiar theme. A loving husband tries to prove to his cynical friend marriage is not the bunk and his wife really loves him, not his money. The curtain Is low- ered to indicate a lapse of six monhts and rises to disclose a really funny piece of busi- ness, recently added. A calendar Is seen indi- cating the date is July 2, and the husband is pouring a drink of milk from a decanter Into a whiskey glass. If possible it should be utilized for a finish, now lacking. Following the Weekly, Keegan and O'Rourke had rather tough going until the girl did an abbreviated shlmmie. An opening number is used with the man doing a mild souse, and the girl making an entrance through stepping out of a bill board. A song and soft shoe eccen- tric dance next by the man while the girl changes to a close clinging black evening gown to sing tbe sure fire "Mammy o' Mine," fol- lowed by their closing number, a sort of slow shlmmie which acted like a sprint on the Jaded palates of a six-day bike race audience. With the proper arrangement this couple should advance. Grace Cameron had the next to closing po- sition, and-was easily the class of the bill, artistically. She started nicely with a de- scriptive introductory aong which commented on what the audience thought of her. Her second number wbb probably called "Everything I Have I Got from My Little Tips." As a blck waitress from Child's, with a prima donna front consisting of a red velvet cloak with fur trimming and a hat to match, she sings about brokers tipping her with Liberty Bonds, etc., and alibis her very evident prosperous appear- ance. It Is a corking lyric and she sells it without offense. Her next characterization is a mildewed bespectacled scandal monger who la buying a hat with an appropriate lyric, "If They Ever Say That About Me." It is cleverly handled. The patter preceding It Is new and showmanlike manner. McMahon and Diamond were with the Hitchcock "Toy" act for a while. Al. Raymond, billed outside as "of Ray- mond and Caverly," delivered a topical mon- olog In acceptable fashion, concluding with tbe patriotic version of "Smiles." which has for its punch-that the world will smile when Ireland Is set free. The paradox of hearing a gentleman who had been delivering his chat- ter with a decided Hebraic accent render such supposed "punch," evidently aimed for ap- plause from the Irish patrons, almost caused bim to flop at the end. Raymond might get away with a clever parody, because he Is no singer. Sinclair and Gasper, a couple of clever girls, essaying bride and grass widow char- acters, scored a hit, and accepted an encore. If personality means anything, the girl doing the "bride" is beaded ~for musical comedy. The widow, aided and abetted by ber auburn hair, gives a classic Impression of a blase woman of tbe world. Lehr, EdmondBon and Marr, the latter Alex. Marr, tbe songwriter, all three clad In khaki, rendered several songs. Marr sits at the piano throughout the turn. The other two chaps, who wear their coats, show one service and wound stripe each, their right sleeve chevrons showing one to be a corporal and the other a sergeant. The cor- poral, who does straight, overplays at times. Morak Sisters, four girls, closed with their stunts on the suspended merry-go-round, mix- ing In little posing and tableaux effects. The late hour caused about one-third of tbe house to walk out. AMERICAN. There Was lots of comedy and singing at the American the last half, but It was not until Cole and Denahy, who closed the show, that any dancing was In evidence. Gabgler'B Dogs, an act that consists of a man and woman and 0 small hounds, opened the Bhew, giving it a slow start. The woman, who ap- pears to be the boss, Is too talkative. The act Is featured by one named "Beauty," which animal carries the entire turn. Beck and Stone (New Acts) did not brighten up matters. Their exit left room for the Three Rlanos, tbe latter turn employing a woman who as- sumes a frantic attitude while the two other members (men) Impersonate Hon and monkey characters. The boys bold their end up very nicely, but were not assigned the right spot to prove enjoyable or-to bring out their ability to success. Lieut. Jaok Mehlln, In khaki, was next, offering a little 'magician work and talk aplenty. Tbe latter predominating, offsetting any good material he might have possessed. "Temptation," a musical comedy, preceded Intermission, but still kept the house in a..; drowsy atmosphere. It Is an abbreviated musical comedy, put together In the form of. a vaudeville act. The turn carries a straight, | comedian, and a chorus of 6 girls, featuring ; a principal. It opens in "one," with 'the - straight imitating a drunk who says he is off the girls forever, regardless of any tempta- tion In tbe feminine line that may arise.. Following an Introduction of "all the company, It goes to "three" in a seashore scene. After \ the chorus delivers a song and dance number, . ■ tbe principal woman is brought into--play, dressed as a mermaid. The title of the ■ act Is then revealed, with the sworn-oft agent ' again willing to entertain. Loney Nase opened after Intermission and had tbe right spot to put things over, but failed, as her repertoire,-'.' fails to buU her ability. Maurice Freeman and Co. was elected to' v No. 7 spot, offering a very pathetlo sketch with tbo conclusion blossoming out to full enjoyment. . Mr. Freeman plays the character . of" a head physician at a large sanitarium, assisted by a nurne and another Italian charac- ter. The latter's wife has been confined for tbe past 2 weeks, due to child-birth, and upon his arrival to take her home, is Informed that his wife and baby died after the operation.:"' Later it Is disclosed'that a mistake had been made, and the supposed "Toney" is Been de- parting with his family, now numbering three,,, as twins came into play. Barry McCormack, In Irish monologs and songs, assisted by a ; piano player; hold next to closing Bpot, Cole and Denahy, offering a variety of dances, closed the show. Rather a peculiar spot for this team; nevertheless, they held attention throughout! being the most enjoyable act on the bill. vmm \jmmat~ fcil! m 125th STREET. The weather last Friday afternoon was a natural spring day; one that brought forth warnings from some that they felt the spring fever coming on. Taat didn't affect the at- tendance; It only retarded the box office move- ment for a spell, but before the show was half over the usual number of standees were »• . ■: '■*>$$ The bill, however, seemed In tune wUh the day—nothing much to brag about, ar-fl that goes for tbe regular bill, which held eight turns and the six try-outs. There was so much singing thrown from tbe footlights that the bunch In front became apathetic. That is, they were dormant-like until Dolly Kay, some- thing of a looker, projected her neat person and her Sophie Tuckerlsh voice Into the going, Dolly hails from the cabaret at the Rltz, In Brooklyn, and it's a cinch that show misses her. They sure liked ber numbers and they, were Insistent for an encore. Since Dolly was on twelfth, her scoring gave her the show's hit. She was 111 Saturday and was replaced by "Father's Daughter," the little playlet eet on the rear of an observation car. Tb° turn baa been done by several persons. At present it is presented by George 8. Fredericks and Co., mentioning Marlon Monroe. It was listed among the professional try-outs, but fits well enough for pop. Bert and Harry Gordon, next-to closing, did as well as expected, but starting nothing. Tbe closing turn was the Boyarr Troupe. The lat- ter's very, slow opening of songs led the house to believe it was Just another singing turn, and half of those present walked without hesi- tation. Leonard and Wlllard, No. 7, got the first real applause of the afternoon. Jos Maxwell and Co. (New Acts) followed. Next were Lang and Show, two singers, who cleaned up (New Acts). Harry Tenny and Co., with animated songs, opened the show. Second, were the Latnont Trio, a wire turn with one of the two girls doing the best work. This girl la dancing on the wire to the accompaniment of, a song plugger warbling from the audience; It's the same stunt as done by Bird MUIman at the circus. Also under New Acta are "He Talked in His Sleep," Qene Irwin,. John' Olms and Nellie, Ray Ripley and White and Bradford.. 1 Ibee. y:';v- JEFFERSON. ' The bill the last half had Veronica and Hurl-Falls to open. They work up their acrobatics most effectively, carry an exterior drop that helps and worked In bathing suits -■'.: to get away' from the stereotyped form used by others. Pleased immensely. Jewett and 'V Elgin received attention on their medley of ■ dances at the closing. ■.■....' "Ladles' Day" (New Acts) was followed by Burns and Nelson, who have eliminated little of their long talking turn since recently seen .,- at tbe Fifth Avenue. The fly talk and retorts of the girl, as (ho nurse, found big laughing favor at the Jefferson. Act could be re- > arranged for better results. McCormack and Mellon (New Acts) were ' followed by George Beane and Co. Jefferson audiences are becoming educated to talking turns, with the result that the Beane sketch mado a bully Impression. Soldiers in tbe ' audience seemed to get the most pleasure out of the skit, as the theme is timely and has to deal with a returning soldier from France. Well played, and idea carried along lm- presslonably. -, Tho DuQucsne Comedy Four seem set for the pop bouses, tbe comody scoring downtown, with the singing also -rendering satisfaction. Llbby and Nelson closed with an exhibition of cycling stunts. . r: