Variety (June 1919)

fT&S-sii; V. . -. 18 '.','s.'.*.,;-.- ;>■'■'" v : " ■■■'--'■.'.'-.■':v'"-..*- ,: ""V;"'.'"".''-'j'iT^' ■ % - v.' j ;-.•■'• ■■.'.*•;' : .\''-*■""•'—. l ■'.'■ - ■ ■"■"■■*•"-'■ "'.- ;■..' ''■'.'.' ■"';■" - . ' ■" VARTE' [gSM- VARIETY L_l^_____ AMONG THE WOMEN By PATSY SMITH. - ?■■•■■■■ ; .. ■■'-■ i I Priscilla Dean is a facinating little crook in "Pretty Smooth." The story is simple and wholesome in its appeal, despite the crook characters. Miss Dean looked real "Frenchy" in her maid's uniform and exceedingly attrac- tive in a flowered organdie summer frock. A combination of black and white satin, was striking, but not so becoming. The upper part of skirt and entire bodice were of white satin banded with black satin which com- posed the lower portion of skirt. The "Mrs. Harper" of the cast wore a stun- ning metallic formal evening gown. "Mrs. Manson" flashed a good looking ..satin, wrap with blue fox scarf and wide sleeve trimming, and a smart vel- vet one piece dress. "The Haunted Bedroom" featured another little screen star, in maid's at- tire. Enid Bennett, as Betsy Thorn, a special writer, gets in a haunted house in the guise of a maid. Miss Bennett was a very timid girlie news- paper writer, but developed unlooked for wisdom as a maid and unraveled the mystery of the haunted chamber. A nicely tailored box suit a la mode and a Jap kimono were worn by Miss Bennett when not in her maid's uni- form. .:-. I ■ The usherettes smiled greetings at the Palace Monday in pretty new-gray silk poplin dresses. The skirts were in deep plaits and the waists piped and girdled with rose silk. Narrow val lace trimmed sleeves and lingerie collars. Rosa King and Co. opened in a blue silk setting. Miss Rosa was in pink georgette and satin, adorned with bands of white marabout, a garland of ' flowers and dainty blue ribbon bows. • A large georgette chapeau had pink i, satin crush crown and .streamers and the tiny bodice was a glitter with iri- . descents. Miss Phebe (Ivan Bankoff and Co.) - was delightfully cool looking in ac- ':,'■■. cordion plaited pearl gray georgette semi-classical dancing frock. The .-«! ' y high bodice outlined with tiny pastel shaded flowers. The orchid plaited front and back panels of a lovely lace frock were caught up in a bunch, front and back, like a butterfly bow and fell (fan-like over the skirt. Beautiful white lace composed the greater por- tion of a Russian bridal array. There was a deep cape attached, to head- dress and a peplum flounce fell be- tween the satin drapery in a cascade down side of skirt. The bloomers of orchid and white costume were too deep a shade or should be of a more delicate fabric. The act includes three' rare artists. Hilda Wolf us (Williams and Wol- fus) opened in a leopard skin dress that fits her as if it grew on her. A costume of blue satin with panel' front and long loose sleeves of net ruffled with narrow pink and blue rib- bons was too fussy but the peach taf- feta flounce was very becoming. The girls in the excruciatingly, funrv telephone bit in Harry Watson's a< t have brightened up their parts witu gay summer ginghams. Ruth Roye was in her orange gold spangled frock. It is safe to say no vaudeville the- atre in Greater New York has ever staged such a clown festival as at the Riverside Monday night. The first three acts were allowed to go on un- molested, the trouble or fun (just as one felt inclined to view it) starting with Bob Hall, who substituted for Lou Holtz. Mr. Hall called attention in his rhythmical witty manner to a bridal party in one of the stage boxes and various professional friends in the audience and on the stage. He was ably abetted by Pat Rooney, Jimmy Barry and Cecil Lean. The bride (of George Brown, champion walker, on later* in bill) demurely clad in ruffled dark taffeta frock, with fair locks muchly curled, blushingly accepted the homage due her. Pat Rooney stepped down from the stage and gave her a generous embrace and sighting Sophie Tucker (looking exceedingly bridy in a beautiful white lace frock), seated in the orchestra with Johnny Lamp*, he extended his osculatory demonstra- tions to her. Despite* that the show was all balled up, there were 1 many laughs, particu- larly from the antics of Pat, who es- sayed the role of "Mr. Butinsky" in the program. When Mr. Brown came on for his walking stunt, he was showered with rice, not only from the audience, but streams of it fell like rain from the flies. Pat Rooney in evening dress coatf high hat and tights, and Jimmy Barry in somebody's white iridescent gown, burlesqued a bride and groom and Cecil Lean was a dancing minister. During Miss Juliet's remarkable presentations, they were fairly quiet until the finale, when Miss Tucker and Eddie Leonard were dragged upon the stage to do special numbers. It was a great night for those in the audience who like to be on intimate terms with professionals, but for those who paid their good money to see regular first class vaude- ville it must have been terrible piffle. Loretta Marks and Jack Patten broke all records, I should say, at this house, as a double in No. 2 spot. The sparkling vibrant personality of Miss Marks just holds you throughout, but she really does not commence to do anything until she dances, and then- she carries out their billing, "just class." Her pretty clothes just seem lo belong, rather than stand.out as special adornments. Rene Chaplow (with Eddie Janis) made three changes. A French blue sequin cloth, soubret dress had one deep cuff of same material in yiolet For a corking good song featuring Theda Bara and Mary Pickford "im- pressions," she was in white chiffon trimmed with many small ruffles and she closed in spangled black net. Two strips of black velvet encircled the skirt and the tiny bib bodice was em- broidered in brilliants. Ankle length fitted trousers showed just beneath the hem. Miss Mayfield appeared in same wardrobe she has worn all sea- son, and Marion Bent in the same cos- tumes recently reviewed. Mrs. Jimmy Barry wore a new graceful frock of white georgette similar in construc- tion to most of iter others. Silver bugle beads or spangles trimmed it across the corsage front, in straight lines, accentuating a-corslet effect. Miss Juliet's fresh ocean green satin costume, the bodice embroidered in self tone beads, bodice girdled with a heliotrope sash, and feet incased in same color, seemed really immaterial against her clever, almost uncanny versatile mimicry. She was the legiti- mate hit of the bill. White was the popular note at the American Tuesday night—five acts on the bill featuring it Miss Jesson (Jesson & Jesson) wore a white satin and lace, the foundation lengthened with a wide band of opalesques and the- corslet bodice of the same. The Keltons were both in white at the open- ing—Mrs. Kelton in draped satin and Miss Kelton in georgette, the skirt made up in four graduate tucks. Mrs. Kelton made two changes—black velvet and sea green satin with chiffon over- dress. An eccentric little flash in pink pussy willow puffed overskirt, over gold lace and a high peaked hat fea- turing a plume about a yard long, helped put the comedy of the girl Well over toward the finale. An ex- treme costume at the opening with more humorous lines, or business, would add much to the\offerihg. It would be well for SaUna (Salinas Cir- cus) to show a little more kindness to the poor animals who are helping him make a livelihood this warm weather. A couple of his dogs are un- doubtedly scared to death of him, and little wonder, when because of fright, a dog pulling some monkeys around stage, gets mixed up in harness and deliberately and brutally Salina "Sunnyside" assuredly does not por- pinches him while extricating him. ay Charlie Chaplin's "funnyside." Mrs. Salina appeared on the stage a couple of times, in a brown silk dress. It would be a far pleasanter sight Ho see her working the animals than the tray Except for ^rm idolaters of Chaplin, many of whom laugh as soon as his face is flashed, the new release holds few legitimate snickers even. Edna Purviance, in the role of a Rube girl, not being a comedienne, did all she could with the part. ^ I. ___ "You're Fired," featuring Wallace Reid, is short and sweet. Wanda Haw- ley, the pretty blond lead, wore some nice apparel, which, however, showed quite as little individuality as she her- self. Lillian Mason was a smartly gowned society matron and many minor women stood out nicely in the ball room and restaurant scenes on costume display. JOE WILMOT MEMEYER Whose success In Mr. Lew Fields' "A. Louely Romeo" at the Shubert Theatre was re- markable. man. - . -• .-■,- ■ M .. The woman of Wood, Young and Phillips, opened in a white silk gold brocade polonaise over a , triple flounced gold lace foundation, that was bulky and puzzled you • as to whether it was going or coming. A golden rod net over a drop elaborately embroidered in silver and opal span? gles, with a girdle of same, was better looking. A black and white stripped double flounce skirtlet and bodice, over black satin leg o' mutton trousers was worn for a Russian dance. Stanley. &- Maie Hughes (presented by Adelaide & Hughes) have, a rather showy offer- ing with the Belgian woolly dolls used as a closing number. A purple and orchid net frock at opening, trimmed with metallic cloth bands, was too fussy, but an old-fashioned hoop skirt costume of pompadour silk with char- teuse velvet bodice and silver poke was very becoming. The pianist read the song originally written in the Ade- laide & Hughes act for David Schooler, read it and played the piano, but with a decided difference. The woman of Waring & Ainslee wore a rose Spanish shawl with a salmon pink skirt. A delicate blue satin foundation had cornflower blue drapery falling from shoulder straps in back, the edges bound with the satin. The net over bodice which fell in a wide point in- front was embroidered in pearl and crystal beads and there was a deep fringe of the beads- across therfront. A rather stylish black tailored hat was quite out of harmony, with the formal evening gown. A white coat and black and white polka dot baronet satin skirt made'a sporty little suit for Mrs. Hen- shaw, of Henshaw & Avery, especially combined with a red silk hat and a green silk parasol. That these clever • performers should be playing small time is one of the mysteries, of the vaudeville game. More elaborate, wardrobe, such as Mrs. Henshaw has shown in the past, is all that is re-, quired to put this act over in any first class theatre. The Genee Trio consists of three women athletes. Their "traps" were nicely decorated in ma- genta satin and bugle beads. White satin short dresses, th& fronts of skirts embroidered in colored span- gles, showed white satin bloomers, just below hem, edged with gold lace. The largest one, undoubtedly quite young, showed an extraordinary mus- cular development which has not as yet robbed her figure of its pretty curves. The dark one, most likely Madam Genee herself, overworks her smile a bit .• ? i