New York Clipper (Feb 1923)

February 14, 1923 THE NEW YORK CLIPPER 11 PROCTOR'S 23RD STREET PROCTOR'S STH AVENUE (Last Half) Six acts of vaudeville and MaxAball Neilan*s photodrama, '*The Stranger's Banquet/* com- prise the ideal small lime bill here. Margot and Francois opened the vauderiUe section with a happy conglomeration of comedy and tumbling. The man handles the comedy and gets over some remarkable somersaults, with hip partner duplicating the fots on stilts. Bob Mills, a one arm piano player and song* iter, offered a collection of comedy songs that set the mob in a happy humor for the evening. He opened with "Hokey Pokey/' followed with "Dizzy Lizzie Brown" and wound up with '*My Home Town." Mills cleverly conceals the raiss< ing arm until at the very dose of his act. Although he lost his arm in the world war, he refrains from making any mention of it and ^ gets over entirely upon bis ability as an enter- t.iiner, without any element of sympathy in- fluencing the audience. Gold and Sunshine,' a miKcd team, have pre- faced their song and dance offerings with a novel prologue. The girl is seated in the temple of BillikcD, a Chinese doll. She converses with the BiUiken. making several wishes, whtcb of course are granted and which leads into the ensuing songs and dances of this clever team. Jack Walsh and Company were another comedy treat of the bill in a tabloid musical comedy. "Little Miss Sunshine." Walsh is a sort of pocket edition of the late William Dooley, and gets over bis comedy stuff with punch and pep. A juvenile acts as a good feed for his ftumaking proclivities and a qtiar- tctte of girls arc utilized to advantage in the several musical numben of the piece. The Alexander Girls, two young women of youthful appf.irance and nimble limbs, offered a delightful scries of' dances. Perhaps their best number was an apache dance in which the girls showed several new stunts in this dance and later ofTsred a lively jazz dance that was equally well done. Yeoman and Ltzzie were another comedy treat. Yeoman handles most of the act while Lizzie reposes in supposed slumber at her typcuTilcr desk. Lit. is meant to illustrate the modem stenog, who, fagged by the strong de- mands oC. metropolitan night life, prefers to do her slumbering at the office. The bit is well worked up and brings n roar when Lizzie comes out of the coma at five o'clock and asks if there is anything else she can do. Yeoman retorts that she can come in earlier in the morn- ing so that she can sleep longer. During Liz* zic*s siesta Yeoman, who is supposed to be running a news service, gels over some topical chatter that is humorous. £. J. B. STATE (Laa Half) Dave Harris and His Band are headlining the bill this week, providing a desirable or- chestra novelty act at the close of the vaudeville end of the bill.' Harris seems to improve, if anything, and is equally versatile singing, or playing 2ny of the instrumeols. In addition to himself, there rtre eight other miiitictans and a girl who does the prologue and a dance later on. The lighting effects arc gcod .md the M- leetions are up-to-date. **Coa1 Black Mammy" is one cf the best numbers done, with **Toot Toot Tootsie Goodbye" and "Hot Lips" follow, ing close behind. The ba.ss-vi(^in bit, for which Harris evidently has a soft spot, registered wcD as usual. Other acts on the bill supplied sufficient va> riety. The Anita Diaz Monkey opened the show and gathered many laughs, as the ^vorite animal performers, are bound to do, especially when they arc well trained. In the second spot. The Lcdallos, two men, trotted ov.t z variety of acrobatic steps, and, in addition to their dancing, revealed excellent singing voices, their songs being equally well received. The iir>vflt7 dance revue of Grazer and Law* Icr was different, in that the man was an un- usual classical and toe dancer, who did many difBcult steps as well as ankle work, etc. The girl did the singing, and other style of dancing also. The act is well arranged, with pretty set, lighting effects and pleawng musical score. Alton and Allen, two men whc«c "daffydQ" ityle is well known to most vaudeville goers, soared «trong1y in the next to closing spot. Their make-up is good for a laugh as soon as they put in an appcnrance. Their songs, of the nonsensical variety, got across in good style, %nd their dancing,' done as a pair of Siamese twins, ^ways stood them in gicd stead. In fact, their eccentric steps warranted an encore or two. (Last Half) An eight act bill, with Frank Famum and Company repeating m» headline aitraction, com- prised the bill for the last half here. This houae ifl a "tough nut" for the bookers in that it re- quires a combination of big and small time acta that can be blended into a semblance of a big time show. Once every so often it manages to achieve this estate. The current bill outside of Karnum, Lydia Barry and Joe Browning is • typically small time show. The Flying Kelsons, an acrobatic trio, opened the bill to a lively gait, witb a scries of clever gymn.ns^icr. mcst of which is done on an aerial trapeze. Two of the men work straight, while the other effects a comic of the "boob" variety and injects a suggestion of comedy through his clowning and at the same time gets in some clever falls. Whalen and McShanc. youngest of the old timers, frihtwed in a sonit nnd dance offering ih.nt war wL'\'ni around reminiscences and jn which the rlanccr gave impressions t>f Fat Ror.ney and George Primrose. Hiii partner scared in a bnUad and both joined forces in a lively dance double for an exit. Mack and Lane, a mixed team of dangers, jc<iardized whatever chance they may have stood by devoting too much of their running time to mirthlcrs gags that were even too much for this Miall time audience. Their dancing lifted them for a cpcH, but their insistence upon scoring as comics sent them off without a band. Paul Decker and Ccmpany offcrrd a tabloid comedietta, "I Heard." the moral of which is aimed at the inveterate gossip and the untold siifTrring brought to others by a gossiping tongue. Decker essays the role of a neu-l>nvcd, who is aiming to curtail this fault in his young wife. Hl^ neighbor drops in and seeks his aid in estabfishing an alibi for his non-api>caranee at the family hearth the previous night. He wants Decker to s^7 that he had been out with htm. The young husband grabs this opportunity to irsc his wife and her methods of exaggeration. He tells the story to another wom.nn. but ex- plains it as fiction; when this^ woman and his wife get through with it, it has been elaborated into such a tale that the offending bushand is locked ont. The ensuing situatic-ns gives much opportunity for whatever comedy the piece ac- complishes. Though rather talky and draggy at times, its attempt to depart from the beaten path ■-f vaudeville skits is, indeed, commendable. Lydia Barry won a fair share of laughs in a hiMlce-ih>dse of snncF and clowning. Her prin- cipal numhT was "My Dream of Vaudeville," in which she gave travesties on the routine vaude- ville bill, getting in some good comedy. Frank Famum and Company, who cleaned up here on their previous appearance several weeks agOk easily duplicated that success Thursday in chrir snppp>- M>ng and dance conceit, ''Everybody Step." Joe Browning's grotesque make-up and hla comedy entrance set the mob right for his ensuing "Timely Sermon" and comedy songs, and established him one of the hits of the bQI. Boganny's Comedians clo«d the show with a mixtnre of comedy, songs and clowning in mn mtertaining featured that was captioned "School Pay?." E. J. B. COLISEUM (LMt lUlO .\ very well-balanced bill made a decided im- provement over the show offered here during the preceding week, and better matinee auend- ance way also noticeable on Thursday afternoon. . The Three Lordens started the vaudeville pro- ceedings, and in the opening spot look several legitimate curtains. Twp men and a pretty girl appear in the offering, which consists mainly of work on the casting bar and trampoline by the men and a neat dance bit by the girL The Texas Comedy Four spoiled a good im- pression they might have otherwise left the audience with, by taking an uncalled for encore. The boys do some very good harmony bits, but like most acts have aa yet to learn when to- fttop and leave them wanting. It wouldn't be a bad idea for them to replace the "Bally-Hoo" number with something newer, aa that particular cne is of the vintage of a few years back. Mollie Fuller almost stopped the show with her offering in which she was assisted by Harriet Marlowe and a chap who did a great take-off on Bert Savoy. Most of the tatter's wise-cracks were lost on the matinee audience, but tu- doubtedly will go over great at night. Mollie is lovable, and it was practically impossible to notice her affliction, as no mention is made of it in the offering. One of the most adorable girls who has ever appeared here came in the person of Marion Weeks, who offered a song cycl:. in which she was assisted by a musical director in the pit who alsa sacg. The vehicle features the **Don** song from the "Tales of Hoffman,'* slides tell- ing the story of the opera leading up to the song before she does it. If anyone ts the type to do the number, it is Miss Weeks. Victor Moore and Emma Liltlcficld and Com- pany appeared in their comedy of back>stage. The "props" chap apparently had a bad cold, for most of the lines and bits which he formerly did, were done by another chap, white he appeared in only a few, which did not require much speaking. It is needless to state that the act was the laugh hit of the show. Paisley Noon and Company dosed the show with a song and dance offering. We'd much rather hear the pianist sing than Nocn, for the former has a line voice and only gets on op- iwrtunity to display it in a harmony number witb Noon, whose forte has always been danc- ing and be should do more of it. The two girls are full of life and do some very good ilancing. but the use of brassieres in the number where they appear in costumes consisting of some flimsy covering above the waist, wotild be in much better taste. If not tbotc, at least something to cover up' what is in plain view of the audience. Imagination is always had by an audience and they should be mode to use it. G. J. H. REGENT (Last Half) Victoria & Dupree opened the show at the Regent the last half in an act billed as *'A Novel Surprise." Hie act went over ■ fine, btit there u-as very lictte of the surprise clement about it. The opening, the waltz, could be speeded up to good advantage. The acrobatic work of both the girl :tnd boy are of very high order and the fnst finish goeft over big. Marie and Billie Marlowe, in the second spot, presented -their Italian immigrant act and got many laughs in spite of the snnewhat draggy dialect talle. They are fairly natural and both of them have exceedingly fine voices, putting over scnu-datsic numbers with case and keeping in the atmosphere of the act at all timea. Frank MdGlynn, telling some incidents from the life cf Abraham Lincoln and later making up to play the character in full view of the audience, telling points about the make-up as he goes along, was a decided novelty. McGlyon played the part of the emancipator in Drink- water's play and looks the part. Uis offering suf< fm, hovever. fran lack of flnish. At times, when the applause did not oomc wfiere he ex- pected it, he fumbled his lines, did not seem quite certain of himself and comrauniated some vf this uneasiness to his audience. His finisb is very weak, as he does not let the house know, in any way, that bis- speech has been concluded hi:t walks off on them as if he had forgotten the rest of the address^ A decided finish apparent to all wotiid brace the act up and help it wonderfully. Charles Aheam and Company present th^r act of sublime hokum, and the bunch out front ate it up. Aheara's act is really taugbaUe, and his many mechanical effects and eomedy bits are sure fire, especially if there are any children in the house. The.two dwarfs are a great asset, .ind the band is a langh. The girl dancer is sweet, talented and gracefuL Owen Martin and Joe Grecnwald present their net entitled "The Wifmcr" in two scenes. The t<7Ut. >rith his line uf race-iiack patter gets over in great style, and the landlord, making his first bet, handles the comedy naturally and eas- ily. Even if much of the slang is unfamiliar to the audience, it gets over and .they are made to understand it by the application. Shura Rulowa, closing the bill, has a ballet of banty and excellence. She has surouaded her- self with four shapely yoiug girls who know how to dance and with a young man who offers her great assistance. The girls open with a tableau and then go into an Egyptian dance that goes over well. The dansensc docs a toe-danoe, that is nathing remarkable, which is fonowed by an oriental, done by three of the girls. The double d?nce, dene by Mile. Rulowa with the man. acrohaitr posturing with throws and whirls, is really vcr>* fine and went over Ug. The bock bend done -frcm the man's chest and several rither 'iifficiilt tricks were cxecated perfectly, and the whole dance was finely routined. The aci is prettily set and well staged. C. C. HAMILTON (Last HalO A fast, smooth-running show drew plenty oi_ patrons for Thursday night's performance, who' secured, plenty of oatiafactton from the tiUL The only act in the way of a "name" on the bill was that of Robert Emmet Kcane and Claire Whitney. Th: rest of the layout was full of entertainment. The Worden Bruthers gave snap to the opoi- ing oi the show with their acrobatic and Rialy work, staged in a novel and effective manner which resulted in more applause for their efforts than the average opening turn - receives in any house. La Vine and Ritx gave a fiiie account of them- selves in the deuce spot with a routine of aonga and dances, the latter portion being mainly im- personations. One singing impersonation, eaUed an impression of Creole-.Fashion Plate shoftld be omitted. Simply because a man gets oi>t before an audioice and sings in a falsetto wbiah anyone else can do docs not signify that the falsetto ia an imitation of* Koiyl -Norman, all the more so because this* falsetto is none too good. The other lad has-tfae-malungs of-a good dancer, hut has to learn that he'll get better results when he does steps ..with more r Most of the acrobatic and eccentric steps were fakes and bad nqorc artificial "hard-work*" to them than 'real dancing. This might go well in a small'time house but is of'doubtful value oil the two-a>day;- Robert Reilly, with Ifolly Kennedy and Little Larry, almost stopped the-'show with one of the neatest and most appealing offerings- in vaudeville. ReiUy's dance. Iirork was quite 'in contrast with that of the boy in the preceding act. Reilly works easily. doMig wonderful taps in a polished swingy manner "with an apparent effort. Miss Kennedy alsio dances neatly, and whm it comes to looks ^aad personality, she lops them all. In fact, if one were to pick a girl to represent Ireland for beauty and type*, she'd, tw first choice by an overwhelming ma- jority. Little Larry bubbles over with fun, antl tnakea the aadiencc love him. Robert Emmet ' Keone and Claire Whitoer, with F. B. Uereome * rendering material sup- port, offering **Tbt Gossipy Sex" by LawrcDcc' Gratton, a classic among comedy sketches. Not only b it eicellcntly written, but perfectly handled by the cut. Lew Bricc kept the laughs coming with his comedy bits, among, which was an tinannounccd imitation of his sister Fanny, doing the. "Spring" number. Brice also does some fine dance work and could have remained in view much longer than he diiL The Breen Family, offering evcrjrthing from' acrobatics, to Juggling, daaclag and comedy, closed the show. Nellie* who left the-family to ' join the "Fsasing Show of 1922" last season, is back in the fold and scores an individtial hit with her dance work. G. J. H. '■ N. V. A. DAY ON APRIL 6 The annual "N. V. A. Day." on which day all theatres in the United Sutes and Canada operated by members of the Vaude- ville Managers' Protective Association donate their matinee proceeds to the Na- tional Vaudeville Artists, Inc^ will be held on April 6th, this year, in custom with holding it on the first Friday in April. A heavy publicity campaign is being prepared for all theatres affiliated with the V. M. P. A. in order to insure large attendances at the matinee on April 6th. Special fea- tures and novelties will be arranged for the vaudeville shows throughout the .coun- try on that day. The funds received by the National Vaudeville Artists, Inc. go to the sick and charity and insurance fund, wliicfa takes care of ill or needy members and pays $1,000 to the beneficiaries of any de- ceased .member. Over $50,000 is expected: to be added to the fluid with this year's benefits. Jerome and Wilson are rehearsing a new act which they will do over the Loew Circuit. Bernard Kadell and Betty Bamicoat sailed for Honolulu last week to appear there with the Tim Frawlcy Stock Company, which is offering a repertoire of American plays. MOULIN ROUGE SHOWS FOR ACTS Billy Arnold, who writes and stages the girl shows for the Moulin Rouge. New York, is plannine to revive several of the former Moulin Rouge successes and offer them in vaudeville as "flash acts." The first of these will be "Cinderella on Broad- way," which will go into rehearsal next week. _ .^fter he has successfully launched this piece, he will direct his attention to "The Society Circus" and "The Revue Intime."